characterize
verb
char·ac·ter·ize
ˈker-ik-tə-ˌrīz 
ˈka-rik-
characterized; characterizing
1
: to describe the character (see character entry 1 sense 1a) or quality of
characterizes him as ambitious
2
: to be a characteristic of : distinguish
an era characterized by greed
Synonyms
Examples of characterize in a Sentence
How would you characterize the situation?
I would characterize this as a positive change for our company.
She had difficulty characterizing their relationship.
His personality is hard to characterize.
Farms and large flat fields characterize most of the area.
the beliefs that characterized Europe in the 15th century
Recent Examples on the Web
Drummond recently paired her two-toned jacket with skinny jeans, knee-high boots, and a trucker hat, but the style, characterized by its roomy pockets, relaxed fit, and sturdy material, proves to be a versatile piece for everyday use.
—
Maggie Horton, People.com, 29 Oct. 2024
Fashion executives characterized the new look as gorpcore, a combination of outdoor and city styling.
—David Moin, WWD, 28 Oct. 2024
Those with low self-esteem and highly anxious attachment styles (characterized by fear of rejection or abandonment), were also found to dampen their positive emotions.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
His interest in music was immediate, starting out as a violin player before trading the string instrument in for a trumpet and studying the avant-garde classical and free jazz sounds that would later characterize his unique bass style with the Dead.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for characterize 
Maggie Horton, People.com, 29 Oct. 2024
Fashion executives characterized the new look as gorpcore, a combination of outdoor and city styling.
—David Moin, WWD, 28 Oct. 2024
Those with low self-esteem and highly anxious attachment styles (characterized by fear of rejection or abandonment), were also found to dampen their positive emotions.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
His interest in music was immediate, starting out as a violin player before trading the string instrument in for a trumpet and studying the avant-garde classical and free jazz sounds that would later characterize his unique bass style with the Dead.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for characterize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'characterize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near characterize
Cite this Entry
“Characterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/characterize. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
characterize
verb
char·ac·ter·ize
ˈkar-ik-tə-ˌrīz
characterized; characterizing
1
: to point out the character of an individual or group : describe
characterize him as ambitious
2
: to be characteristic of
tragic endings characterized her stories
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