Thesaurus results for DESCRIPTION

Q: How is the word 'description' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of description are character , kind , nature , sort , and type . While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined. // not all acts of that description are actually illegal

Q: When might 'character' be a better fit than 'description'?

The meanings of character and description largely overlap; however, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type. // research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

Q: When could 'kind' be used to replace 'description'?

While the synonyms kind and description are close in meaning, kind may suggest natural grouping. // a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

Q: When would 'nature' be a good substitute for 'description'?

The words nature and description can be used in similar contexts, but nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses. // two problems of a similar nature

Q: When can 'sort' be used instead of 'description'?

In some situations, the words sort and description are roughly equivalent. However, sort often suggests some disparagement. // the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

Q: In what contexts can 'type' take the place of 'description'?

The synonyms type and description are sometimes interchangeable, but type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group. // one of three basic body types

description

noun

di-ˈskrip-shən

Definition of description

as in depiction

a vivid representation in words of someone or something we immediately recognized the man from our cousin's description of him

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in type

a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common fixes small appliances and other things of that description

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word description distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of description are character, kind, nature, sort, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might character be a better fit than description?

The meanings of character and description largely overlap; however, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When could kind be used to replace description?

While the synonyms kind and description are close in meaning, kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When would nature be a good substitute for description?

The words nature and description can be used in similar contexts, but nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When can sort be used instead of description?

In some situations, the words sort and description are roughly equivalent. However, sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can type take the place of description?

The synonyms type and description are sometimes interchangeable, but type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

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 description Below is a look at some of the incidents that fit that description over the last year alone. — Elena Giuliano, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 The graphic descriptions of internal brain trauma overwhelmed the jury box, prompting the judge to call a recess Friday. — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 The delivery driver gave investigators a description of the vehicle and its tag number, which detectives entered into license-plate reader cameras, said Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. — Grace Bellinghausen, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026 Clarkson, meanwhile, has stood by her description of the interaction and has said that supporting small businesses does not mean accepting poor treatment as a customer. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for description

Recent Examples of Synonyms for description

Noun

Chen initially resisted the rainbow-like chromatic aberration familiar from other screen depictions of superpowers.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
The painting will be displayed alongside an ancient relief borrowed from the National Roman Museum, reportedly introduced to Rembrandt through a reproduction, that inspired his depiction of Bathsheba attended to by a footmaid.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of depiction

Noun

The latest salvo is a two-week ad campaign launching Thursday in the Atlanta and Macon markets, the first broadcast buy of its kind for the caucus.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Non-essential workers—executives, administrators, management of all kinds—disappeared into Zoom en masse across the country.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of kind

Noun

The work, known as the Tondo of the Two Brothers, dates back to the 2nd century and belongs to a group of paintings known as the Fayum portraits.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay chose Milton Rogovin’s informal, untitled portrait of a beautiful young Buffalo woman from his East Side, 1961-63 collection.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of portrait

Noun

At 934 pages long, the book inspired the Hollywood film Pollock (2000), for which Marcia Gay Harden won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Krasner.

— John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
The result is a look at the diversity of the country in contrast with official Soviet portrayals and productions from the same era.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of portrayal

Noun

In my tests, with the lower-brightness Cinema mode, the UHZ36 was easily bright enough to deliver a suitably bright picture for both SDR and HDR material on my 90-inch screen in a dark room.

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026
That ended Notre Dame's 16-game winning streak and is one of several outcomes that are going to shake up the rankings and CFP picture in a big, big way.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of picture

Noun

Hottest genres in Spain As in the rest of the world, dramas – across a wide spectrum of crime, suspense and fantasy to family drama – proved the hottest genre, weighing in as half the premieres during that period (15 titles).

— Annika Pham, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Chow followed it with Kung Fu Hustle (2004), another genre-blending smash that earned more than $100 million worldwide and cemented his reputation as one of Hong Kong’s greatest comedy-action hitmakers.

— Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of genre

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descries

description

descriptions

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“Description.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/description. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of description

noun

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