describe

verb

di-ˈskrīb How to pronounce describe (audio)
Definition of describenext
1
as in to depict
to give a representation or account of in words he tried to describe the dream he had last night as accurately as he could

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to tell
to give an oral or written account of in some detail a biography of Washington that describes the decisive Battle of Yorktown at great length

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to characterize
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group how would you describe the Inupiat people you encountered in Alaska?

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 describe Gloger’s rule is an ecological principle formulated by the German evolutionary biologist Bernhard Rensch to describe the relationship between climatic conditions and pigmentation in animals. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026 The woman’s boyfriend witnessed the collision and described the vehicle as an older model truck. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026 The way Brittany Hampton describes her work is like listening to a coach detail game-day tactics on SportsCenter. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026 That is how one senior Atletico Madrid source described the situation surrounding Julian Alvarez this summer. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for describe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for describe
  1. depict
  2. tell
  3. characterize
  4. portray
  5. relate
  6. define
  7. illustrate
  8. recount
Verb
  • Golf equipment powerhouse Callaway ended its partnership with Good Good Golf amid the justified backlash over a video ad for a new Callaway driver that depicts a man aggressively shoving a woman to the ground.
    — Greg Cote August 30, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
  • And inside, the shoe’s insoles are printed with graphics depicting piles of beads — just in case the inspiration was lost on anyone.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of depict
Verb
  • The referendum campaign has fueled debate about Iceland’s place in the world, Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir told reporters after casting her ballot in ​the capital on Saturday.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Indrika Ratwatte, the acting assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council that the Kenscoff attack forced more than 2,600 people to flee their homes, many for the second or third time.
    — Evens Sanon, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of tell
Verb
  • Phoenix characterized the chips, established the programming approach, and verified the resulting devices before delivery.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Blanche and the president have characterized those cases as politically motivated.
    — Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of characterize
Verb
  • By this reasoning, federal agencies must be allowed to complete rulemaking before judges intervene, and challenges to the order are portrayed as speculative attempts to stop reforms that could be crafted within constitutional limits.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Following his success on M*A*S*H, Alda continued playing a TV doctor on ER in 1999 and six episodes of The Big C, as well as portraying a psychiatrist on Ray Donovan.
    — Rachel Flynn, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of portray
Verb
  • Neiman speculates that polyploidy and the snail’s unusual reproductive strategies are related.
    — Carrie Arnold Contributing, Quanta Magazine, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Though theories implicated everyone from rival rapper Biggie Smalls to Knight’s wife Sharitha — neither of whom was ever charged in connection with the murder — investigators long suspected the killing was gang-related.
    — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of relate
Verb
  • Made for pretty much every texture, the airy foam gives fine-to-medium hair body without weighing it down, while helping define and smooth thicker waves and curls without sacrificing movement.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Drone warfare has become a defining feature in the country's war, with both sides carrying out strikes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of define
Verb
  • The application illustrates how intelligent multi-agent systems may support operational efficiency while addressing regulatory and compliance requirements.
    — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The graphic below illustrates that Circati is not a centre-back who sticks a foot in too often, preferring to sit off and protect the space.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of illustrate
Verb
  • Johansson recounted how, during one studio session, Saab picked up a single piece of black fabric and twisted, turned, and draped it into a bustier dress right on the mannequin.
    — Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • In a public letter, the organization recounted years of collaborative work with the Forest Service and non-profit, A Clean Wilson Creek, to clean up the river.
    — Lily Knoepp, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of recount

Browse Nearby Words

descrambling
describe
described
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Cite this Entry

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

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