1
as in to describe
to give a representation or account of in words
the author portrays her characters with lifelike vividness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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3
as in to depict
to present a picture of
a landscape that portrays the scenery near the town where the painter grew up
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4
as in to play
to present a portrayal or performance of
gained fame portraying Susan B. Anthony in a one-woman show
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of portray
The film portrays the Mile End music scene that birthed artists like Mac DeMarco, Arcade Fire and Grimes, as Grace grapples with romantic obsession and finding her voice as a writer.
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Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Harris, meanwhile, has portrayed herself as a direct, consistent advocate for reproductive health and rights, including Black maternal health.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
Murphy’s initial involvement in the film came at the behest of actress and producer Catherine Davis, a devoted George Clinton fan who first approached Murphy about his interest in portraying Clinton onscreen.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Her reincarnations of Madonna and Child portray Black mothers’ experiences of bodily autonomy and safety, which are often denied under a white supremacist regime.
—Shameekia Shantel Johnson, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for portray 
Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Harris, meanwhile, has portrayed herself as a direct, consistent advocate for reproductive health and rights, including Black maternal health.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
Murphy’s initial involvement in the film came at the behest of actress and producer Catherine Davis, a devoted George Clinton fan who first approached Murphy about his interest in portraying Clinton onscreen.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Her reincarnations of Madonna and Child portray Black mothers’ experiences of bodily autonomy and safety, which are often denied under a white supremacist regime.
—Shameekia Shantel Johnson, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for portray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portray
Verb
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The suspects’ vehicle has been described as a black, four-door Lexus ES 350 that appeared to have noticeable damage on the front driver’s-side fender.Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
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Trump could inject new levels of volatility into what is often described as the world’s most important bilateral relationship, after an election win that comes at a critical moment for the globe’s two largest economies.Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The goal is to achieve a juicy look, characterized by an imprecise and slightly smudged application, reminiscent of the resulting lip tint after taking a bite of fruit.Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
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China's East Asian neighbors are also grappling with similar problems, characterized by rapidly aging populations and younger generations increasingly hesitant to have families.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But contrary to how the press depicted it, reuniting with her Puerto Rican parents wasn’t exactly easy.Marta Balaga, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
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Just last week, a video falsely depicting individuals claiming to be from Haiti and voting illegally in multiple Georgia counties circulated across social media, prompting Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) to ask X and other social platforms to remove the content.Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The graduate student didn’t play in the season opener at Texas, only got in the game late against UNC, and played sparingly against CU before breaking out with a 156-yard, two-touchdown performance against UTEP.Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
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Mack played only a handful of snaps because of a groin injury.Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
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One place to start would be selling dozens of parishes that appear to be without priests, said Jeff Anderson, an attorney representing more than 100 victims.Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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Swartz, who represents Area 3, leads Michelle O’Brien with 56.94% of votes.Alexcia Negrete, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Students from College of Adaptive Arts will sing the opening National Anthem and perform a special cheer routine during the game.Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
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Latin music icon Marc Anthony performed and executive produced a special segment with salsa great Sergio George to pay homage to the tropical music genre.Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Organizations need mechanisms in place to synthesize, visualize and interpret relevant and timely insights.Swapna Sathyan, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Chan shares that the reactions were a mixed bag—some millennials felt slighted, interpreting the playful tone as a critique of their generation, while others related and shared their own experiences in a lighthearted manner.Melissa Fleur Afshar, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Whereas most people in Weaverville had water and power, most of Asheville did not.The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
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Any candidate can file a petition for a recount in Indiana, Oregon, and Washington, or a party official can do it on their behalf.Addy Bink, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Portray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portray. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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