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 Lean In To What Matters Take responsibility beyond your job description. — Bala Sathyanarayanan, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 There wasn’t a missing person report that matched the body’s description. — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026 Her tribute ended with a heartbreaking description of the different roles Giusti played in the lives of those around him. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026 The service was afforded a brief description in the newspaper. — Victoria Davies, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for description

Recent Examples of Synonyms for description

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 ruling, the first of its kind under Hong Kong’s Societies Ordinance, has raised alarms over freedom of association as authorities continue tightening controls after the 2019 democracy protests.

— Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
The ground application was the first of its kind in Texas firefighting history, officials said.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of kind

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

Sorry to sit on the fence but both of them… There was little to like about a stale, out-of-sorts Manchester United facing a side with not a single fearsome attacker.

— Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
No matter your hurry, overloading your washing machine will produce a headache of a different sort (and might even cost you more money).

— Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of sort

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

For years, Cole was mystified by a small, beanlike object with stripes which lurked in the background of certain drawings.

— Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
The 2000s look typically paired these bright palettes with bold prints like polka dots, stripes, and paisleys.

— Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of stripe

Noun

This is a genre film with a very intriguing world at its core, and Raja has brought a distinctive vision to it.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
His career has also included collaborations with artists across hip-hop and other genres, including Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne and Jelly Roll.

— J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 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 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of description

noun

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