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outline

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun outline differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of outline are contour, profile, and silhouette. While all these words mean "the line that bounds and gives form to something," outline applies to a line marking the outer limits or edges of a body or mass.

traced the outline of his hand

When might contour be a better fit than outline?

The meanings of contour and outline largely overlap; however, contour stresses the quality of an outline or a bounding surface as being smooth, jagged, curving, or sharply angled.

a car with flowing contours

When can profile be used instead of outline?

In some situations, the words profile and outline are roughly equivalent. However, profile suggests a varied and sharply defined outline against a lighter background.

a portrait of her face in profile

When is it sensible to use silhouette instead of outline?

The synonyms silhouette and outline are sometimes interchangeable, but silhouette suggests a shape especially of a head or figure with all detail blacked out in shadow leaving only the outline clearly defined.

photograph in silhouette against a bright sky

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 outline
Verb
To qualify for special education services, students must fall into one of 13 categories of disability outlined in IDEA. Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2025 Officers also found text messages between Fox and the victims outlining their plan to meet so Fox could buy lean from them, prosecutors said. Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
Lollapalooza, for its first several years, resembled a rough outline of a social movement. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025 The project comprised conservative organizations and Trump allies and featured a 900-page outline on a wide range of policies for the potential second Trump administration. Jared Gans, The Hill, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outline
Verb
  • What To Know Authorities traced the funds to three cryptocurrency wallet addresses, after the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio filed a civil forfeiture complaint in February highlighting the scam.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The film traces the mothers’ effort leading up to the school’s 2023 opening.
    Abigail Lee, Variety, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • According to Dewey's Instagram Stories summarizing the fatal incident, the toddler was playing with a suction cup bowl by sticking it onto a mirror and pulling it back and forth.
    Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • But to summarize, he was born in San Benito, Texas — not far from Brownsville and the Mexico border town of Matamoros — and raised by his mother in a nearby trailer park.
    Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Amazon’s fashion section is packed with versatile spring maxi dresses, including breezy styles with gorgeous florals, timeless silhouettes, dramatic sleeves, and tiered skirts.
    Emily Weaver, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
  • But the thrilling sequence featuring Ana de Armas' Paloma, a CIA agent assisting Bond in Havana, offers all the classic elements of the franchise — including a high-slit, high-glam evening gown in a perfectly contemporary silhouette.
    EW.com, EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Los Angeles City Attorney’s office spokesman Ivor Pine said Urías was placed on 36 months of summary probation and ordered to complete 30 days of community labor.
    Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Document Decisions: After each meeting, send out a summary of key decisions and action items.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Speed, reliability and usability will define success.
    Mehdi Daoudi, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Contour Book, $64 Frequently Asked Questions What’s the difference between contour and bronzer?
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 17 Mar. 2025
  • House Republicans unveiled a spending bill Saturday that would keep federal agencies funded through Sept. 30, pushing ahead with a go-it-alone strategy that seems certain to spark a major confrontation with Democrats over the contours of government spending.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • With the funding, city staff will sketch out a pedestrian refuge island at the curve in the street, as well as a pedestrian warning signal.
    Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Since cumulative complexity appears not to be the most important difference, several researchers are sketching out a new perspective: Human culture is uniquely open-ended.
    Eli Elster, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Outline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outline. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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