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
In Friday's speech, Biden outlined the stakes of the race and again characterized his Republican opponent Donald Trump as a threat to democracy while addressing concerns about his age.
—
Rachel Hale, Journal Sentinel, 5 July 2024
Such readings, often depending on the individual, may be characterized as miserable.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 5 July 2024
Petulant Type The petulant type of BPD is characterized by persistent, unpredictable mood swings or high emotional instability.
—Joy Emeh, Health, 5 July 2024
After all, many of life’s most rewarding pursuits, like parenting, exercising, or mastering a new skill, are characterized by a mix of positive and negative feelings.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for characterize 
Rachel Hale, Journal Sentinel, 5 July 2024
Such readings, often depending on the individual, may be characterized as miserable.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 5 July 2024
Petulant Type The petulant type of BPD is characterized by persistent, unpredictable mood swings or high emotional instability.
—Joy Emeh, Health, 5 July 2024
After all, many of life’s most rewarding pursuits, like parenting, exercising, or mastering a new skill, are characterized by a mix of positive and negative feelings.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for characterize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'characterize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near characterize
Cite this Entry
“Characterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/characterize. Accessed 15 Jul. 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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