as in to describe
to give a representation or account of in words
he limned the scene in the courtroom so perfectly I could practically see it
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Recent Examples of limn
The adjacent desperations of the Emory family are meant to limn the material and psychological effects of living under the threat of anti-Blackness in America.
—
Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2021
Nonetheless, Democrats want to be perceived as favoring virtually universal suffrage, and to limn their conservative and Republican opposition as favoring vote suppression.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 3 Nov. 2020
Her poems, which have appeared in The New Yorker for over thirty years, limn the legacies of history, in her home country and beyond, and reckon especially with the repression of women’s accomplishments, realities, and inner lives.
—Hannah Aizenman, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2020
Also stuffed not inelegantly between the microcosmic doings are several larger incidents that limn the bloody and brutal history of the two centuries, including South American totalitarianism, European pogroms and the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.
—Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2020
See All Example Sentences for limn
Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2021
Nonetheless, Democrats want to be perceived as favoring virtually universal suffrage, and to limn their conservative and Republican opposition as favoring vote suppression.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 3 Nov. 2020
Her poems, which have appeared in The New Yorker for over thirty years, limn the legacies of history, in her home country and beyond, and reckon especially with the repression of women’s accomplishments, realities, and inner lives.
—Hannah Aizenman, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2020
Also stuffed not inelegantly between the microcosmic doings are several larger incidents that limn the bloody and brutal history of the two centuries, including South American totalitarianism, European pogroms and the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.
—Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2020
See All Example Sentences for limn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limn
Verb
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While that might seem like a trite explanation, there is no succinct way to describe the transformative encounter that begins upon entry into the venue’s atrium, which welcomes viewers into the Land of Oz with Sphere-typical grandiosity.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
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Seeing the devastation for the first time is difficult to describe: a sense of pain, heartbreak and disbelief.—
Cara Owsley,
The Enquirer,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The eyewitness, according to Fox, also heard a racial slur by one of the White people before the events depicted in the video.—
Kevin Grasha,
The Enquirer,
29 Aug. 2025
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The heartfelt lyrics poignantly articulate the slow fading of their once bright connection, depicting the pain of watching a previously vibrant flame flicker and ultimately extinguish despite their sincere efforts to nurture and revive it over time.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In the episode, Kane portrayed Samantha, a poultry heiress competing for Frank's heart on the reality show.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Anderson also portrayed Jayne Mansfield in a 1980 TV film opposite a then-unknown Arnold Schwarzenegger.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Limn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limn. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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