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outline

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun outline differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of outline are contour, profile, and silhouette. While all these words mean "the line that bounds and gives form to something," outline applies to a line marking the outer limits or edges of a body or mass.

traced the outline of his hand

When might contour be a better fit than outline?

The meanings of contour and outline largely overlap; however, contour stresses the quality of an outline or a bounding surface as being smooth, jagged, curving, or sharply angled.

a car with flowing contours

When can profile be used instead of outline?

In some situations, the words profile and outline are roughly equivalent. However, profile suggests a varied and sharply defined outline against a lighter background.

a portrait of her face in profile

When is it sensible to use silhouette instead of outline?

The synonyms silhouette and outline are sometimes interchangeable, but silhouette suggests a shape especially of a head or figure with all detail blacked out in shadow leaving only the outline clearly defined.

photograph in silhouette against a bright sky

Examples 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 outline
Verb
The Hill’s Laura Kelly outlines how that will work. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 17 Jan. 2025 Beyond typical bridge repairs and road improvements, Healey outlined a plan to stabilize the MBTA's growing budget crisis with more taxpayer dollars, improve service frequency and upgrade stations. Mike Deehan, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
If no outlines are received by February 24, 2025, the public hearing will be canceled. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 One graphic features a sketch of Doja hugging the outline of California while modeling a dress made out of ocean waves; another shows a similar sketch riding the Golden State like a surfboard. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 13 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for outline 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outline
Verb
  • During the investigation, nearly 3,000 kilos of cocaine, valued at more than $90 million, was traced back to the organization.
    Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Buffalo Trace first released Sazerac Rye in 2006, but the whiskey’s origins can be traced back to the 1880s . . .
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Other news organizations such as the New York Times and Sky News had stories incorrectly summarized.
    David Phelan, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
  • This content was summarized by generative artificial intelligence using public filings retrieved from SEC.gov.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The pieces exude elegance and sophistication, featuring timeless silhouettes like the cream off-the-shoulder Jared Top and the black Helois Dress.
    Essence, Essence, 24 Jan. 2025
  • They’re designed with a straight-leg silhouette and would look super chic styled with a wool-blend coat or leather trench.
    Emily Weaver, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The minutes of the meeting, which were recorded by Otto Rank, on January 11th, 1911, are essentially a summary of Hilferding's presentation.
    Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2025
  • My colleagues will go into more detail about the changes, but here is a summary of key headlines: STREAMING CNN Max has been a tremendous resource for us.
    Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • He’ll ultimately be defined, though, by his ability to continue to wait for plays to develop and stay cerebral as the speed of the level around him ramps up.
    Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
  • But the greater conversation around AI in 2025 will likely be defined by balance — safely getting the best out of AI, without overselling its promise.
    Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Yet no political system can erase the contours of the earth itself, and the wild geography of my hometown shaped me as much as Soviet conformity.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Memory of a Broken Dimension uses glitch textures laid on top of pitch-black spaces as a way to light the contours of the world’s abstract shapes.
    Yussef Cole, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • She’s sketched out a blueprint for another version that could use closed, secure large language models to perform the matching automatically.
    Billy Perrigo, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Both stand on rounded heels and are decorated with tonal embroidery based on designs sketched by James.
    Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 17 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near outline

Cite this Entry

“Outline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outline. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on outline

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