1
as in to trace
to draw or make apparent the outline of
the man's roly-poly shape was softly delineated by the glow of the fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to describe
to give a representation or account of in words
the story does a remarkable job of delineating the emotions that immigrants feel upon their arrival in a strange country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 delineate
To fix that, the actual operating rooms won’t have the red outline on the floor, and the operating area will likely instead be delineated with a lighter gray color.
—
Emily Brindley, Dallas Morning News, 1 Apr. 2026
Halevi added that further efforts are needed to clearly delineate crimes against the state, including what falls within that category and what does not.
—Benjamin Weinthal , Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Now, in the finished space, herringbone parquet delineates one long hall, as does a ceiling track lighting system by Wever & Ducré.
—Ludovica Stevan, Architectural Digest, 22 Mar. 2026
The projection of Earth’s equator delineates the celestial equator, and the poles project onto the north and south celestial poles.
—Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for delineate
Emily Brindley, Dallas Morning News, 1 Apr. 2026
Halevi added that further efforts are needed to clearly delineate crimes against the state, including what falls within that category and what does not.
—Benjamin Weinthal , Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Now, in the finished space, herringbone parquet delineates one long hall, as does a ceiling track lighting system by Wever & Ducré.
—Ludovica Stevan, Architectural Digest, 22 Mar. 2026
The projection of Earth’s equator delineates the celestial equator, and the poles project onto the north and south celestial poles.
—Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for delineate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delineate
Verb
-
State Department officials trace the roots of the ongoing conflict back to the Islamic Revolution in 1979 that gave rise to the Islamic Republic of Iran.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Limon’s brother told the Times that by Sunday, investigators had traced the pair off campus.—
Dan Sullivan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Angels shortstop Zach Neto did precisely what Cora described.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Several days before the draft, McVay and Snead described their connection.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An epic comeback and an epic bounce defined two games that forced Game 7s on Friday night.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
2 May 2026
-
That tension — between the gravity of what the commission documented and the limits of what it was empowered to do — defined Thursday’s release of its final report.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The characters can be flawed, and cars can crash, McDermott says, but NASCAR wanted race scenes to look authentic and was adamant that the series not depict anyone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Daniel Chong, 104 minutes Pixar’s latest family-friendly charmer depicts a land war — over a patch of earth that was once occupied by beavers and other wildlife and that human developers are eager to blow up for a highway.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors outlined the evidence against Hisham Abugharbieh in a motion for his pretrial detention, filed Saturday.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Anoe outlined the grant process at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 697 in Merrillville.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The film stars renegade country singer Elizabeth Cook as a fictionalized version of herself, portraying an artist navigating midlife while contending with an industry that has never fully embraced her.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
-
However, director Antoine Fuqua made the conscious decision to use CGI to portray the chimpanzee.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delineate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delineate. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
