Thesaurus results for PORTRAYAL

portrayal

noun

pȯr-ˈtrā(-ə)l

Definition of portrayal

as in depiction

a vivid representation in words of someone or something his novel presents a moving portrayal of a woman searching for personal fulfillment and happiness

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 portrayal For Miller, the fact that Pike is a mother was key to her portrayal. — Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026 Commentators have also argued that Crawford’s reporting, at times, has given a more positive portrayal of conservative members of the High Court. — Daniel Strauss, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2026 The three leads rightly received Best Actress honors in the Un Certain Regard section for their raw portrayal of the headstrong women at the center of an unraveling middle-class family in San José, Costa Rica. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026 After receiving rave reviews for his chilling portrayal of OpenAI guru Sam Altman, Andrew Garfield is headed towards a busy awards season and that now includes a prestigious new honor. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portrayal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrayal

Noun

Labeled by the press as a farmer and his wife, the depiction of the couple found detractors in both Iowans and art critics.

— Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
So the ability for people to make visual depictions and reach towards cinematic success became more palpable or more accessible.

— Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of depiction

Noun

Andreatta has disputed descriptions of the exchange as an altercation, saying the conversation ended with a handshake.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Their description of condensates doesn’t rule out earlier theories of spider silk formation.

— Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of description

Noun

But whether a matter of intention or circumstance, what emerges in place of star power is a more intimate portrait of Perry and his decadeslong struggle with substance abuse, leading to his death from a ketamine overdose in the fall of 2023.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
This is a portrait, ballpoint pen on notebook paper, of a woman existing somewhere on Planet Earth.

— Madeline ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of portrait

Noun

As the Chicago meningococcal outbreak illustrates, health officials need a complete picture to protect people from disease and other threats.

— Julie Morita, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Indeed, Raad is best known for his own method of fabulation, marrying stories and pictures, imaginations and histories.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of picture

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portray

portrayal

portrayals

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“Portrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrayal. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of portrayal

noun

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