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defined

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verb

past tense of define
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as in described
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group a woman who is defined by her unswerving loyalty to her friends

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 defined
Verb
Size representation on the runway this season was defined by a more fragmented set of ideals. Amy Francombe, Vogue, 6 July 2026 Remarkably, in a game defined by the South American team’s lack of sportsmanship, this became the first World Cup game in which a Paraguay player did not receive a yellow card since 1998. Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026 In 2025, 40% of nursing homes in Colorado had severe deficiencies, defined as problems that can threaten residents’ lives, according to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data. Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026 Ben’s whole life was defined by being a leader who opened the doors for generations of Americans to have more opportunities. Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 Ghana’s tournament hopes came to an end, but for many of the thousands gathered in KC, the evening was never defined by who advanced. Latif Love july 4, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026 And to be an American is to be embroiled in the great democratic experiment that has been defined by division from the beginning. Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 The first merges Birkenstock’s first-ever sandal, the one-strap Madrid from 1963, featured with the Big Buckle, and is merged with its successor, the Arizona sandal launched in 1973 and defined by the brand’s original square buckles. Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 28 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defined
Adjective
  • Another man has been charged with operating an unregistered drone in restricted airspace around Dallas Stadium during the FIFA World Cup, federal attorneys said Friday.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026
  • In a separate interview, another person familiar with the situation — who has been involved in past intelligence investigations involving Venezuelan officials — offered additional allegations about the restricted zone.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The suspect’s escape route was traced, including the journey from France into Italy, and then across several European countries up to her country of residence.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • But Koppl traced a distinctly American lineage through a chain of precedents dating back more than 50 years, each one further eroding the market discipline that profit-and-loss accountability is supposed to provide.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • What The $10 Million Cap Changes At the old $1 million ceiling, operational risk was bounded by the dollar amount.
    Sabeer Nelliparamban, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Then after another Algerian wave of pressure, Gouiri tapped in a loose ball after a corner from Anis Hadj Moussa, Mahrez’s replacement after the hydration break in the 76th minute, bounded loosely through the box.
    Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • One person, described only as a male, was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to fire officials.
    Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Investigators previously described the suspect as a man, but during a news conference on Friday, prosecutors said Berezovsk was allegedly dressed as a man during the package bomb attack.
    Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • But Ginther noted that the way the stars were to be laid out was never specified, which means some of the designs can appear to be curious and compelling.
    Eric Shawn, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Investigators determined that the first two originated from the same sender, the official told Reuters, though how that conclusion was ​drawn was not specified.
    Jana Winter, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • The department’s limited release of materials prompted outcry and lawsuits from people saying the department was acting to protect rich and powerful people mentioned in the files.
    Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • But the Idaho side never found the back of the net again while Knoxville proved lethally efficient with its limited opportunities.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • The wide-ranging ordinance outlined how far away data centers can be built from nearby communities, how much noise the centers can emit and what reports property owners must submit to the city.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
  • The letter outlined that many food and household products available today would remain, alongside the gas station, while other items and services like clothing, major electronics, the pharmacy and the food court would not be offered.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The land was only officially demarcated as Indigenous territory in 2005.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 June 2026
  • The line there was visible, demarcated by a wide dirt path and small yellow markings.
    Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Defined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defined. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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