portrait

noun

ˈpȯr-trət How to pronounce portrait (audio)
Definition of portraitnext
as in description
a vivid representation in words of someone or something his account created in the jurors' heads a detailed portrait of a lonely old man

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 portrait The entry is paired with a suite of portraits of a number of Black men and women wearing MooreWraps, versatile multi-wear garments created by Moore’s sister with proceeds donated to victims of domestic violence and incarceration. — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, an oil portrait of a sailor conjures his time in the Navy. — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026 The portrait debuted alongside Reynolds’ full-length portrait of the Duchess of Devonshire. — Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 Musk is a frequently compelling portrait of a complicated man but that portrait is incomplete in some crucial ways. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portrait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrait
  1. description
  2. depiction
  3. portrayal
  4. picture
  5. sketch
Noun
  • There’s a lot of character packed into that description — a complicated combination of ego, insecurity, cynicism, and self-justification.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But that description barely scratches the surface, Chris Joyner reports.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of 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
  • 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
  • The team’s coach, Mike Ditka, who died last week, was immortalized in a series of Saturday Night Live sketches.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Canaletto expert Charles Beddington authenticated the drawing, which was likely a preparatory sketch for a painting last sold in 1995 for $354,000 (about $766,000 in today’s dollars).
    — News Desk, Artforum, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of sketch

Browse Nearby Words

portmanteaus
portrait
portraits
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Cite this Entry

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

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