Thesaurus results for CHARACTERIZE

characterize

verb

ˈker-ik-tə-ˌrīz

Definition of characterize

as in to describe

to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group how would you characterize the mission of this environmental organization?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to distinguish

to be an important feature of an unsightly rash characterizes chicken pox

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of characterize OpenAI sought to characterize the PAC as a totally independent entity, but employees — encouraged by critics on X — were skeptical. — Garrison Lovely, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 The brand held its fall 2024 show in Saint Moritz — one of executive chairman Remo Ruffini’s favorite ski resorts but which can hardly be characterized as intimate. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026 Conversely, sustainable uptrends are characterized by successful bullish breakouts, where pushes through resistance lead to additional upside follow-through. — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2026 Scientists try to compute these wave functions before synthesizing and characterizing the molecules directly in the lab, so the labs can focus their resources on the most promising reactions. — Sophya Garashchuk, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for characterize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for characterize

Verb

Hey, the boss needs a favor In a November 2025 Reddit post, one person described buying $800 in Target gift cards on their second day at a new job after receiving an email impersonating their boss.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Its inclusion in the corridors of power is characteristic of the 52-year-old executive, whom colleagues describe as committed, charismatic and down-to-earth.

— Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of describe

Verb

Yet despite their contrasting presentations, there is little to distinguish their strategies at this early stage.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
From there, the runway becomes a space to discover more avant-garde designs — distinguished by craftsmanship, fabrication and details.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of distinguish

Verb

The conductors who oversee the recording of the movie scores are portrayed as hyper-demanding corporate perfectionists.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
Armour invoked the murder of Emmett Till while connecting the controversy to America’s history of White women portraying Black people as threats.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of portray

Verb

Many are calling for tougher measures — part of a broader rightward shift across Latin America, where security has become a defining political issue.

— Carrie Kahn, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Abdy and De Luca represent a filmmaking approach that isn’t solely defined by sequels and CGI.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026