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View synonyms for

characterize

especially British, 󲹰··ٱ·

[kar-ik-tuh-rahyz]

verb (used with object)

characterized, characterizing 
  1. to mark or distinguish as a characteristic; be a characteristic of.

    Rich metaphors characterize his poetry.

  2. to describe the character or individual quality of.

    He characterized her in a few well-chosen words.

  3. to attribute character to.

    to characterize him as a coward.



characterize

/ ˈæɪəˌɪ /

verb

  1. to be a characteristic of

    loneliness characterized the place

  2. to distinguish or mark as a characteristic

  3. to describe or portray the character of

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • characterizable adjective
  • characterizer noun
  • mischaracterize verb (used with object)
  • recharacterize verb (used with object)
  • ˈ󲹰ٱˌ adjective
  • ˈ󲹰ٱˌ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of characterize1

First recorded in 1585–95; from Medieval Latin 󲹰ŧ, from Greek 󲹰ŧí𾱲; character, -ize
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

During a week of protest, Los Angeles is the center stage of the national immigration debate, with pundits on both sides characterizing the fight through the lens of their respective viewpoints.

From

Orbán's Hungarian regime has often been characterized as modern authoritarianism or a "hybrid regime of electoral autocracy," one in which power is accumulated by the ruling party over time through creative quasi-legal means.

From

Unlike the rebellious music that characterized rock in the ’50s, the Beach Boys’ songs were full of sunshine and good times: “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around” and the classic “Good Vibrations.”

From

Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Human Rights of Los Angeles characterized the sweeps as an unprecedented “enforcement blitz” in which people are being “indiscriminately” targeted.

From

Ron Washington took a page out of the characterized version of himself from the 2011 film “Moneyball” when asked about how difficult it would be to revive the Angels’ sputtering offense.

From

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characterizationcharacterized