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
During this latest flyby, the spacecraft passed close to Amalthea, Jupiter's fifth-largest moon, characterized by its potato-like shape and small size.
—
Jamie Carter, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
China's East Asian neighbors are also grappling with similar problems, characterized by rapidly aging populations and younger generations increasingly hesitant to have families.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The goal is to achieve a juicy look, characterized by an imprecise and slightly smudged application, reminiscent of the resulting lip tint after taking a bite of fruit.
—Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
Gout Gout is a type of arthritis characterized by sudden and severe pain, redness, and swelling in the joints.
—Lauren Panoff, Mph, Rd, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for characterize 
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Jamie Carter, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
China's East Asian neighbors are also grappling with similar problems, characterized by rapidly aging populations and younger generations increasingly hesitant to have families.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The goal is to achieve a juicy look, characterized by an imprecise and slightly smudged application, reminiscent of the resulting lip tint after taking a bite of fruit.
—Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
Gout Gout is a type of arthritis characterized by sudden and severe pain, redness, and swelling in the joints.
—Lauren Panoff, Mph, Rd, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for characterize
Dictionary Entries Near characterize
Cite this Entry
“Characterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/characterize. Accessed 22 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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