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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of portrays
Playing a young Michael is Juliano Krue Valdi, while Colman Domingo portrays patriarch Joe Jackson, who managed Michael and his brothers in the Jackson 5, and daughters Rebbie Jackson, La Toya Jackson and Janet Jackson.
—
Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s real-life nephew, portrays Michael Jackson in his acting debut, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long as parents, Joe and Katherine.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
The book portrays the city as a liminal metropolis where the line demarcating business and crime has been worn faint by heavy footfall from both directions.
—Mark O’Connell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Reynolds portrays an American soldier forced to crash land during a mission over Soviet Russia.
—Mark Meszoros, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
Colman Domingo portrays Joseph Jackson, father and manager of the Jackson 5, and Nia Long portrays Katherine Jackson.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
The director, Antoine Fuqua, working with a script by John Logan, portrays Michael as an emotionally stunted and grievously wounded artist of historic greatness.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
With Ryan Gosling starring as Grace, the film portrays schoolteacher Grace and extraterrestrial Rocky (voiced by James Ortiz) on a mysterious mission to save their respective worlds.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
On the other side of Lexington Green, Mike Graves also portrays a Revolutionary War figure, albeit one wearing red.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s real-life nephew, portrays Michael Jackson in his acting debut, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long as parents, Joe and Katherine.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
The book portrays the city as a liminal metropolis where the line demarcating business and crime has been worn faint by heavy footfall from both directions.
—Mark O’Connell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Reynolds portrays an American soldier forced to crash land during a mission over Soviet Russia.
—Mark Meszoros, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
Colman Domingo portrays Joseph Jackson, father and manager of the Jackson 5, and Nia Long portrays Katherine Jackson.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
The director, Antoine Fuqua, working with a script by John Logan, portrays Michael as an emotionally stunted and grievously wounded artist of historic greatness.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
With Ryan Gosling starring as Grace, the film portrays schoolteacher Grace and extraterrestrial Rocky (voiced by James Ortiz) on a mysterious mission to save their respective worlds.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
On the other side of Lexington Green, Mike Graves also portrays a Revolutionary War figure, albeit one wearing red.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrays
Verb
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And that describes this Panthers offense to a tee.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
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The geological formation has been studied for decades, and that long record of scientific interest shapes how the company describes its role.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But no such device exists for the way Trump characterizes it — at least not when math is done correctly.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
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The author characterizes Huntington Beach itself as an inherently self-aggrandizing, wealthy coastal enclave unrepresentative of broader California concerns, dismissing the notion that this affluent beach town should serve as a model for statewide governance or the state’s future direction.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The painting, a collaboration between the Glenview Art League, residents and Chicago artist Anne Farley Gaines, depicts a bridge on the North Branch of the Chicago River and will run parallel to the river.—
Jennifer Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Degrees of estrangement are common in dysfunctional families, and this book depicts their slippery, progressive nature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Again, Madueke plays short to Odegaard, with Havertz, White and Zubimendi moving towards the ball.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The Audacity creator Jonathan Glatzer and star Billy Magnussen, who plays wealthy tech CEO Duncan Park, took the stage at Deadline Contenders TV to talk about taking the tech monster lurking in the shadows and those responsible for its existence, and turning it into a comedy.—
Amanda Champagne-Meadows,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There’s a direct correlation between a president’s approval rating and the way his party performs at the midpoint of his term.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Though amateur, the choir often performs at festivals and events in Serbia and abroad.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In an oppositional reading, the reader understands the dominant ideology expressed in the text but rejects it and interprets the text in an alternative way.—
Shepherd Mpofu,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
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Like personal numerology, address numerology interprets the numbers in your address to uncover the vibrations of your living environment.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mendoza represents a fundamental (and drastic) upgrade at QB.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The loss of Kidal represents a significant blow to Russia’s credibility in Mali, where the military junta has relied on mercenaries to combat Islamic extremism.—
Wilson Mcmakin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portrays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrays. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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