as in depiction
a vivid representation in words of someone or something
his novel presents a moving portrayal of a woman searching for personal fulfillment and happiness
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Recent Examples of portrayal
On Friday, news broke of the passing of actor Anthony Head at 72, best known for his portrayal of Watcher/father figure Rupert Giles on the supernatural drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
None of these remotely apply to Capaldi’s relatable portrayal.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
The scene was genuinely awful to watch, but the movie—a story of plague, passion, period costumes, and an unwashed man in a tunic skipping town to cure writer’s block—ended up thrilling us; the portrayal of two creative minds working together (and apart) was, oddly, familiar.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
The 28-year-old actress' portrayal of Cassie focused largely on the character's launch of her OnlyFans account in order to pay for an extravagant wedding and other debts accumulated throughout the intense third season.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
None of these remotely apply to Capaldi’s relatable portrayal.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
The scene was genuinely awful to watch, but the movie—a story of plague, passion, period costumes, and an unwashed man in a tunic skipping town to cure writer’s block—ended up thrilling us; the portrayal of two creative minds working together (and apart) was, oddly, familiar.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
The 28-year-old actress' portrayal of Cassie focused largely on the character's launch of her OnlyFans account in order to pay for an extravagant wedding and other debts accumulated throughout the intense third season.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrayal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayal
Noun
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One of Miami’s oldest Black communities, Overtown is a cautionary tale and a resounding depiction of the resiliency.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2026
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The celebration ended with a fireworks display along the lakefront that included a fiery depiction of the American flag.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
Noun
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Witnesses provided officers with a photograph and description of the suspect's vehicle, helping investigators quickly identify and locate Harmon.—
Caroline Foreback,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
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Some Apple Intelligence features, like higher limits on image generation and descriptions of footage from smart home cameras compatible with Apple’s HomeKit system, will require an iCloud+ subscription.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Noun
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David Hockney, the British artist most famous for his 1960s paintings of Los Angeles swimming pools and double portraits rendered in vivid acrylic paints, died at his London home on Thursday, June 11, at age 88.—
Constance W. Glenn,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
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That year also saw Hockney’s first appearance in Vogue, a group portrait with fellow painters Howard Hodgkin, John Howlin, and Ian Stephenson.—
Robin Muir,
Vogue,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The Padres remain on the fringe of the way-too-early playoff picture while waiting for Jackson Merrill, Xander Bogaerts and Machado to find their footing.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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In the process of turning the house into a museum, countless artifacts, photos, and personal ephemera were uncovered, painting a vivid picture of the artist’s life at home.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayal. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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