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
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
Security Modern SaaS applications follow a development process characterized by frequent releases as new features and iterations become available.
—
Ben Verghese, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Another type of hyperpigmentation that kojic acid can help with is melasma—a stubborn and hard-to-treat skin condition characterized by splotchy, brown or grayish patches.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Mar. 2025
And, while the South adores its menfolk, those terms especially characterize Southern women, who are known for their creativity—whether in the form of a lip-smacking recipe, warm hospitality, or curating collections to make their house a home.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025
Perhaps because of this, the press and his critics often characterize the pontiff as a liberal progressive, citing his affection for those living outside the church’s moral parameters.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for characterize
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Ben Verghese, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Another type of hyperpigmentation that kojic acid can help with is melasma—a stubborn and hard-to-treat skin condition characterized by splotchy, brown or grayish patches.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Mar. 2025
And, while the South adores its menfolk, those terms especially characterize Southern women, who are known for their creativity—whether in the form of a lip-smacking recipe, warm hospitality, or curating collections to make their house a home.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025
Perhaps because of this, the press and his critics often characterize the pontiff as a liberal progressive, citing his affection for those living outside the church’s moral parameters.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for characterize
Cite this Entry
“Characterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/characterize. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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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