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Describe: alternatives and connections

Begin with the reviewed alternatives, then explore broader connections without treating every related word as an automatic substitute.

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26,102 words currently have published synonym-style alternatives
90,593 searchable synonym connections
350,924 published thesaurus relationships of every type
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Describe

To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle.

87 useful connections shown 48 reviewed relationships and 39 broader connections.
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Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Verb group 2

Draw 84% connected

To cause to move continuously by force applied in advance of the thing moved; to pull along; to haul; to drag; to cause to follow.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet groups these verbs by closely related meaning.

Draw 84% connected

To cause to move continuously by force applied in advance of the thing moved; to pull along; to haul; to drag; to cause to follow.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet groups these verbs by closely related meaning.

Manner of action 9

Adumbrate 76% connected

To give a faint shadow or slight representation of; to outline; to shadow forth.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Circumscribe 76% connected

to write or engrave around.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Construct 76% connected

To put together the constituent parts of (something) in their proper place and order; to build; to form; to make; as, to construct an edifice.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Delineate 76% connected

Delineated; portrayed.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Inscribe 76% connected

To write or engrave; to mark down as something to be read; to imprint.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Outline 76% connected

The line which marks the outer limits of an object or figure; the exterior line or edge; contour.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Represent 76% connected

To present again or anew; to present by means of something standing in the place of; to exhibit the counterpart or image of; to typify.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Sketch 76% connected

An outline or general delineation of anything; a first rough or incomplete draught or plan of any design; especially, in the fine arts, such a repres…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Write 76% connected

To set down, as legible characters; to form the conveyance of meaning; to inscribe on any material by a suitable instrument; as, to write the charact…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Broader term 5

Determine 76% connected

To fix the boundaries of; to mark off and separate.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Expound 76% connected

To lay open; to expose to view; to examine.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Inform 76% connected

Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Mark 76% connected

A license of reprisals. See Marque.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Set 76% connected

of Set

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Derivationally related 14

Depiction 74% connected

A painting or depicting; a representation.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Depiction 74% connected

A painting or depicting; a representation.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Description 74% connected

The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Description 74% connected

The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Descriptive 74% connected

Tending to describe; having the quality of representing; containing description; as, a descriptive figure; a descriptive phrase; a descriptive narrat…

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Descriptive 74% connected

Tending to describe; having the quality of representing; containing description; as, a descriptive figure; a descriptive phrase; a descriptive narrat…

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Line 74% connected

Flax; linen.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Line 74% connected

Flax; linen.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Lineation 74% connected

Delineation; a line or lines.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Lineation 74% connected

Delineation; a line or lines.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Outline 74% connected

The line which marks the outer limits of an object or figure; the exterior line or edge; contour.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Outline 74% connected

The line which marks the outer limits of an object or figure; the exterior line or edge; contour.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Picture 74% connected

The art of painting; representation by painting.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Picture 74% connected

The art of painting; representation by painting.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Entails 5

Assort 72% connected

To separate and distribute into classes, as things of a like kind, nature, or quality, or which are suited to a like purpose; to classify; as, to ass…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records that the source verb entails the related action.

Class 72% connected

A group of individuals ranked together as possessing common characteristics; as, the different classes of society; the educated class; the lower clas…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records that the source verb entails the related action.

Classify 72% connected

To distribute into classes; to arrange according to a system; to arrange in sets according to some method founded on common properties or characters.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records that the source verb entails the related action.

Separate 72% connected

To disunite; to divide; to disconnect; to sever; to part in any manner.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records that the source verb entails the related action.

Sort 72% connected

Chance; lot; destiny.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records that the source verb entails the related action.

Synonym 12

Account 92% connected

A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Delineate 92% connected

Delineated; portrayed.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Depict 92% connected

Depicted.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Discover 92% connected

To uncover.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Distinguish 92% connected

Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Draw 92% connected

To cause to move continuously by force applied in advance of the thing moved; to pull along; to haul; to drag; to cause to follow.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Identify 92% connected

To make to be the same; to unite or combine in such a manner as to make one; to treat as being one or having the same purpose or effect; to consider…

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Key 92% connected

An instrument by means of which the bolt of a lock is shot or drawn; usually, a removable metal instrument fitted to the mechanism of a particular lo…

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Line 92% connected

Flax; linen.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Name 92% connected

The title by which any person or thing is known or designated; a distinctive specific appellation, whether of an individual or a class.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Report 92% connected

To refer.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Trace 92% connected

One of two straps, chains, or ropes of a harness, extending from the collar or breastplate to a whiffletree attached to a vehicle or thing to be draw…

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Related word 1

Explain 72% connected

To flatten; to spread out; to unfold; to expand.

ad editorial 2026 08 academic 20% interchangeable stronger

Do not substitute automatically: description identifies features, while explanation addresses mechanism, cause or meaning.

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Words from the same subject

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Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.