portrays

verb

present tense third-person singular of portray
1
as in describes
to give a representation or account of in words the author portrays her characters with lifelike vividness

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2
as in characterizes
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group traditionally, European authors portrayed the natives as wise and noble

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3
as in depicts
to present a picture of a landscape that portrays the scenery near the town where the painter grew up

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4
as in plays
to present a portrayal or performance of gained fame portraying Susan B. Anthony in a one-woman show

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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 portrays In the 1925 novel, the appearance of fledglings symbolizes freedom, confinement and even spiritual rebirth, themes that follow lead characters Clarissa and Sally (whom Edebiri portrays) as the story unfolds. — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 In the film, Long portrays Katherine Jackson, matriarch of the Jackson family, alongside Oscar nominee Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson and Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, as the king of pop. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Filmed on the Mongolian grasslands, the film portrays the chaos of the early days of the Covid pandemic. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 Those are the words actress Emayatzy Corinealdi — who portrays Jax Stewart in Hulu‘s hit Reasonable Doubt — used to describe the new season. — Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Beckford plays a filmmaker, while Mack portrays an actress who both run away to the same farmhouse hoping to find themselves. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026 Another question, says Professor Trotti at Ithaca College, is whether a public execution portrays strength or provokes horror. — Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2026 The column portrays Cunningham as an outspoken agitator whose growing profile has become a distraction for the Fever. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 System of repression The indictment portrays torture as an instrument of government policy rather than isolated misconduct by individual security officers. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrays
  1. describes
  2. characterizes
  3. depicts
  4. plays
  5. performs
  6. interprets
  7. represents
Verb
  • The term describes people whose reaction to not knowing is far more intense than the situation warrants.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The popular term generally describes a softer physique with extra weight around the midsection.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of describes
Verb
  • The younger Paul’s relationship with Braunstein, however, was cold — ever since Les Paul died in 2009 of severe pneumonia complications amid what Gene characterizes as communication issues between Braunstein and the family.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Yet recent rhetoric from City Hall characterizes CARE as a success.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of characterizes
Verb
  • The bronze ring depicts the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, officials said.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • This nearly 10-foot-high work depicts Mount Tai, one of China’s Five Great Mountains, and leads the viewer’s eye along the pilgrimage routes to the mountain’s summit.
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of depicts
Verb
  • After the Longhorns stuffed Jadan Baugh for a 2-yard loss plays later, Jones sold a fake, rolled out and connected with tight end Lacota Dippre for a 7-yard score.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
  • But Peter O’Toole plays your adviser and has these wonderful speeches about the importance of the monarchy and the spirit of the country.
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of plays
Verb
  • While Motor Decide helps identify the best motor technology pathway, Motor AI performs the detailed motor design work needed to bring those concepts to life, according to a press release.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Narges also performs the majority of her own stunts across the series.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of performs
Verb
  • Spring 2027 will offer complete looks of how Walsh interprets Rebecca Taylor’s codes for a new generation.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Unfortunately, his doctor interprets all the screaming about an alien presence in Thomas’ head as a garden-variety psychotic breakdown, and remands him to a more secure facility.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of interprets
Verb
  • Defense lawyer Lawrence Obonyo, who represents Mackenzie and almost all of the others convicted, said he had been instructed to appeal.
    — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • When viewed against the broader micro-mobility sector, the XPress Lite represents a serious challenge to competitors like Ride1Up and Aventon.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of represents

Browse Nearby Words

portraying
portrays
ports
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Cite this Entry

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

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