PORTRAY Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

portray

verb

pȯr-ˈtrā

Definition of portray

as in to describe

to give a representation or account of in words the author portrays her characters with lifelike vividness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to characterize

to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group traditionally, European authors portrayed the natives as wise and noble

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to depict

to present a picture of a landscape that portrays the scenery near the town where the painter grew up

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to play

to present a portrayal or performance of gained fame portraying Susan B. Anthony in a one-woman show

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 portray In the visual, Karol and Mars portray lovers once again — and even share a dramatic, firework-spurring embrace at the end. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026 Prosecutors sought a more substantial prison term, portraying Rivera as the leading participant in the operation. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026 Paul Reubens, the actor and comedian best known for portraying the character Pee-wee Herman on stage and screen, has died. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 In the film, which earned more than $598 million worldwide, Tillman portrays Captain Bledsoe, a submarine operator who assists Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) in his mission to defeat an artificial intelligence villain. — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portray

Recent Examples of Synonyms for portray

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

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of bingeing followed by purging.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
Company officials characterized the pace as methodical at the outset, followed by an aggressive push toward commercial licensing.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of characterize

Verb

The Rock Art Trail is fun and educational, as is trying to identify what some of the animals depicted are.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Video posted on social media by activists accompanying pro-government factions depicted what was said to be the aftermath of attacks on Houthi positions along the Red Sea coast.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of depict

Verb

Business travelers love this hotel for its balance of work and play, along with its central location.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Barcelona Lamine Yamal may have been light on the score sheet during the World Cup, but the teenage phenom played his role to perfection during Spain’s tournament-winning run.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of play

Verb

The hotel just opened, so maybe that’s what accounts for it, but there’s a real atmosphere of excitement, and the staff seems to want to represent the greatest manifestation of the Four Seasons brand.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
But there’s also something to be said for when certain trivia categories are a bit more represented in the mix.

— Sean McGowan, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of represent

Verb

During the themed show, the dancers performed to many of Carey’s songs from over the years.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
His new project, Flop, aims to create a spot market for computing power, where participants are rewarded with Flop tokens for providing GPUs and performing AI inference.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of perform

Verb

Until today, human scientists have been the agents responsible for discovering cancer cures, and for doing so they (and key associates) have been showered with academic credit and awards, perhaps even a Nobel Prize.

— Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
In a game that looked lopsided for the better part of three quarters, the Chargers did enough Sunday to scare the defending Super Bowl champions.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of do

Browse Nearby Words

portraitures

portray

portrayal

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Style

“Portray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portray. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of portray

verb

Example Sentences

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