delineation

noun

di-ˌli-nē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce delineation (audio)
Definition of delineationnext
1
as in sketch
a picture using lines to represent the chief features of an object or scene his simple but striking delineations of Dutch landscapes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in description
a vivid representation in words of someone or something a finely wrought delineation of a young couple's first experience with love and loss

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 delineation What's needed is a clear delineation of roles between digital and human agents. — Sanjoy Sarkar, Forbes.com, 7 May 2026 The board approved the plan, but also is seeking a more detailed delineation of the affordable housing elements. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026 There are, in fact, two major sub-genres that divide sci-fi — hard sci-fi and speculative (or soft) sci-fi — and most of the time, the delineation between the two is pretty clear. — Matthew Razak, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026 On top of that, Brewer and Brooks have the opportunity to get the security of a multi-year contract ahead of turning 30 years old, which is often the line of delineation for a NFL career. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for delineation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delineation
  1. sketch
  2. description
  3. drawing
  4. portrait
  5. depiction
  6. portrayal
  7. illustration
  8. image
Noun
  • The Grammy- and Oscar-winning musician (who should also have an Emmy for his cameo in this Saturday Night Live sketch) married YouTuber Claudia Sulewski on Saturday, and his little sister officiated.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Scott London Chester Designed by Jason Anderholm Chester began as a napkin sketch, created by Jason Anderholm, who went from electrician to showman.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of sketch
Noun
  • The camera captures a car's license plate numbers, a car's description, and the date, time and location a vehicle passed through, and uploads the data to a searchable database customers can use.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Soon after its release, Cusk was sued by one of the people mentioned in the book, who recognized himself based on Cusk’s description.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of description
Noun
  • Winning Triple Twist numbers 15-19-27-30-36-41 Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.
    — Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of drawing
Noun
  • Giovanna had spent almost forty years researching Fernanda and, in a way, had already created her own portrait of her.
    — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
  • As Ghostface prepared to leave the Boone, Kansas City artist Deaunte Thomas approached him carrying a portrait depicting Ghostface alongside other members of Wu-Tang Clan.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of portrait
Noun
  • On one wall, the ambassador installed Marc Lipp’s Fight Fight Fight, a depiction of Trump with a bloody ear and raised fist painted by one of the president’s favorite Palm Beach watercolorists.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In her depiction of the exhausting vigilance this reality required, through a second-person voice cannily implicating her reader, Rankine created a new language to identify a problem as old as the United States.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of depiction
Noun
  • The film stars Will Smith in his Oscar-winning portrayal of the Williams sisters’ father, Richard Williams.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Adventureland and Zombieland brought his wider recognition, followed by his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network.
    — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of portrayal
Noun
  • But the circumstances provide an unusually good illustration of how potentially enormous financial advantage can be gained from knowing in advance what a president is about to say.
    — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Holding cotton candy in one hand, Rani—whom Hudson shares with fiancé Danny Fujikawa—topped her long golden blonde hair with a cream cowboy hat that was embellished with her name and an illustration of a rose.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of illustration
Noun
  • Following Abloh’s death in November 2021, Kamara was appointed as art and image director and presented his first show, Spring/Summer 2023, in Paris that year.
    — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The telescope’s first images are expected in the beginning months of 2027.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of image

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delineating
delineation
delineations
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Cite this Entry

“Delineation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delineation. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on delineation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about delineation

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