description

Synonym Chooser

How is the word description distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of description are character, kind, nature, sort, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might character be a better fit than description?

The meanings of character and description largely overlap; however, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When could kind be used to replace description?

While the synonyms kind and description are close in meaning, kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When would nature be a good substitute for description?

The words nature and description can be used in similar contexts, but nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When can sort be used instead of description?

In some situations, the words sort and description are roughly equivalent. However, sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can type take the place of description?

The synonyms type and description are sometimes interchangeable, but type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

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 description Di Chiara refused to provide a description of the issues, citing statutes that say documents on the inner workings of election systems are confidential. Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2024 Living in Lebanon and Afghanistan was supposed to have made Hal and Kate more empathetic and resourceful, but their descriptions of that region are either traumatized or patronizing. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024 In a study published in September in Evolution, Medicine, & Public Health, Thomas and colleagues borrow from Hazen and Wong in their description of tumor evolution. Paul Voosen, science.org, 1 Nov. 2024 Police in Texas were able to get a description and DNA of the suspect, but there were no further leads. Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for description 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for description
Noun
  • Albanese cited the risks to the physical and mental health of children from excessive social media use, in particular the risks to girls from harmful depictions of body image and misogynist content aimed at boys.
    Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Its depiction is based on the real-life mobster Tony Spilotro’s association with the Las Vegas Tower of Pizza restaurant in the 1960s.
    Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Instead of Black life maimed, denuded of dignity, and degraded, each portrait that makes up I, Narcissus is a study of delicious glamour.
    Essence, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
  • On the one hand, armor, as Wiley sees it, is a metaphor for portrait painting itself.
    Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • This economic pain is a kind that cuts through demographic lines.
    Jasmine Cui, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
  • Here’s the description: The Superstitious Man is the kind who washes his hands in three springs, sprinkles himself with water from a temple font, puts a laurel sprig in his mouth, and then is ready for the day’s perambulations.
    Popular Science Staff, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Watch on Hulu The Dropout Amanda Seyfried won a much deserved Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy for her portrayal of the notorious Stanford dropout turned health care technology maven Elizabeth Holmes, who tricked some of the world’s savviest business minds into investing in her company, Theranos.
    Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
  • The actress has continued to return to the show for special appearances, maintaining continuity in the portrayal of the vice president throughout significant political moments.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Bailey herself is a shape-shifter of sorts, right on the border between child and teenager in age and, with her androgynous looks, occupying an ambiguous place between genders as well.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
  • In District 10, Batra, a former Intel and IBM executive, also faced a rematch of sorts as the City Council appointed him to the vacant seat in 2023 over several candidates, including Casey.
    Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Since then, Google Maps has blurred its picture of Fuentes’ house.
    Bruna Horvath, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Once your account has been created, click your account picture (top left), then Edit profile.
    David Nield, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The election is inescapable in Phoenix, as nearly every street corner is dominated by a colorful collection of campaign signs of every political stripe.
    Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
  • The Phoenix Zoo welcomes a baby Thomson's gazelle, one of the smallest gazelle species known for its distinctive light-brown coat with dark stripes along the sides.
    Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Ditto the Linux Foundation, whose equally fresh definition isn’t exactly the same as the OSI’s, but still plainly demands information about training data, and the ability for anyone at all to reuse and improve the model.
    David Meyer, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Despite visions of beach walks and pickleball that are hardwired into our idea of retirement, the actual definition of retirement is to withdraw and pull back.
    Joseph Coughlin, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near description

Cite this Entry

“Description.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/description. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on description

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