characterize

Definition

To depict someone or something a particular way (often negative).

Etymology

From Medieval Latin charactērizō, from Ancient Greek χαρακτηρίζω (kharaktērízō, “to designate by a characteristic mark”), from χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr, “a mark, character”). By surface analysis, character + -ize.

Example Sentences

• "[Stephen] Miller’s uncle, a neuroscientist, has been welcomed onto the public stage for his denunciations of his nephew’s immigration policies, which the elder Miller has characterized as hypocritical: the Millers’ not-so-distant Jewish ancestors were, of course, immigrants themselves."
• "There is no way to avoid the slight cups, crooks, bows and twists that characterize wood."
• "The second level of reading we will call Inspectional Reading. It is characterized by its special emphasis on time."