1
as in to trace
to draw or make apparent the outline of
the man's roly-poly shape was softly delineated by the glow of the fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to describe
to give a representation or account of in words
the story does a remarkable job of delineating the emotions that immigrants feel upon their arrival in a strange country
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of delineate
One path forward would be serious discussion of a modern city charter that more clearly delineates executive and legislative roles.
—
Sara Albrecht, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The force of Quincy’s essay resided not in rehearsing this full litany of offenses for The Atlantic’s readers but in delineating its implications.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Humans couldn’t delineate such borders in several lifetimes, but the algorithm did it in hours.
—Amber Dance, Quanta Magazine, 9 Feb. 2026
At Wednesday’s hearing, Roth asked the judge to drop a terrorism enhancement to the charges, saying that the law does not explicitly delineate presidential candidates as potential victims of terrorism.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for delineate
Sara Albrecht, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The force of Quincy’s essay resided not in rehearsing this full litany of offenses for The Atlantic’s readers but in delineating its implications.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Humans couldn’t delineate such borders in several lifetimes, but the algorithm did it in hours.
—Amber Dance, Quanta Magazine, 9 Feb. 2026
At Wednesday’s hearing, Roth asked the judge to drop a terrorism enhancement to the charges, saying that the law does not explicitly delineate presidential candidates as potential victims of terrorism.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for delineate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delineate
Verb
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Detectives traced it to a house in South Lake Tahoe.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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The source of the strong odor was traced to a circuit board that overheated, and it was replaced, Duffy said.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rabbi Irwin Kula, the panel’s moderator, asked the participants to describe their biggest fear or nightmare.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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In 2024, Contra Costa County investigators searched a ravine and found the ladder Matthew Muller described using to climb into a family's house weeks after the March 2015 attack on Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sets by Illenium, Steve Aoki, BZRP, Vintage Culture, Armin Van Buuren, Alesso, Martin Garrix, Eric Prydz, Sara Landry, Major Lazer and others highlight a night defined by big production and packed audiences.—
Miami Herald newsroom,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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The girl everyone thought Vlasis was, is the pop-star Madonna who at the time was emerging as a major Hollywood It-girl, and would later become a cultural phenomenon that defined the 80s and 90s.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Such engravings, which depict the wackily maximalist style à la mode, including oodles of feathers and furbelows, were, in essence, early precursors to modern fashion magazines.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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The formation assembled 394 feet above the river and depicted some of the world’s most iconic TV shows, sports, and movies, including Harry Potter, Batman, Superman, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and The White Lotus.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some schools also use an Individualized Health Care Plan (IHCP) — a nursing document that outlines how your child’s allergy will be managed throughout the school day.—
Dr. Sonja O'Leary,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
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In the high southeastern sky, look for a backward question mark that outlines the head and chest of the constellation Leo the Lion.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The book portrays an authoritarian near-future Russia where most entertainment and all news comes through Cameras, people wired to transmit their experiences directly from their brains to the internet.—
Stephanie Burt,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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Fisher will portray the recurring role of Michael Jorie, a dangerous killer with a warped sense of righteousness and piety to his beliefs that fuel his involvement in a southwestern gang with a long history of violence.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delineate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delineate. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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