1
as in drawings
a picture using lines to represent the chief features of an object or scene
made a quick sketch from which she would create a more detailed painting later
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in portraits
a vivid representation in words of someone or something
gave her boss quick sketches of the personalities of the clients he was about to meet
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in traces
to draw or make apparent the outline of
sketched the garden pavilion on a pad of paper so the homeowners would have a rough idea of how it was going to look
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in describes
to give a representation or account of in words
briefly sketched the intent of the reorganization plan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of sketches
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 13 Jan. 2026
Here, a look at the designers’ sketches from the 2026 Golden Globes.
—Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 12 Jan. 2026
The Al Hirschfeld Foundation, a nonprofit that supports cultural institutions in part by using income from exhibits of the late artist's iconic cartoon sketches, posted a photo of an Al Hirschfeld rendition of the Grateful Dead from 1995 as a way to memorialize Weir.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
The exhibition opens with a room centered on Tazewell’s inspirations, bringing together family photos, artwork by his mother and costume sketches from his college years.
—Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Produced in collaboration with la Cinémathèque française, the British iteration of the show reimagines and expands on the 2025 Paris presentation with more than 700 objects, including original storyboards, notebooks, photographs, puppets, models, sketches and costumes from his movies.
—Stephanie Sporn, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026
Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the ensuing wars in the Balkans, TLN sketches identified the societal fault lines that would come to be central in the violence.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
One of his final sketches, featuring Ariana Grande and Cher, saw the comedian and Wicked actor play a Delta One Lounge employee working his last shift — a direct nod to his own departure.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
As a result, there were always several sketches that might not make it into the broadcast.
—Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
But at the same time, Hale sketches out a clear vision for Oura’s future that relies on institutions tapping the tech company for deeper insights into population metrics.
—Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025
Newman sketches out the basic details of her emergence as a self-care guru.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Nov. 2025
Marc Davis sketches that influenced the very first attractions in California.
—Lindsay Kimble, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Some Saturday Night Live sketches bomb and others become Hall of Famers.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Building a following through viral TikTok and Instagram sketches with the Webby Award–winning group American High Shorts, Healy has opened for Trevor Wallace, Todd Barry, and Sean Patton, and was recently named a Creator to Watch as part of the 2025 New York Comedy Festival.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
The strategy sketches out three main scenarios, with a blueprint and timetable for each.
—Bilal Y. Saab, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Innovation sketches the blueprint of what is possible.
—Aman Gupta, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Fittingly, his songs often play like short stories, sketches, and vignettes.
—Verb
Drawing on his own diaries and Said’s unpublished letters and manuscripts, Hovsepian sketches both the portrait of a friendship and an intellectual biography.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for sketches
Noun
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Wallpaper showing drawings from engineers at General Motors' headquarters in Detroit, Michigan.—
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The result is far more complex than the drawings of volcanoes most saw in school, with a main vent connecting a chamber of magma with the surface.—
Noun
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The Academy Collection has also added the Kobal Foundation Collection of Photograph Negatives, which consists of approximately 20,000 original negatives, including portraits and behind-the-scenes images by some of Hollywood’s greatest photographers.—
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Above the presidential portraits is gold lettering that matches the new Rose Garden sign, titling the makeshift exhibit.—
Verb
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Through a series of prison visits with a volunteer named Jackie, Nick traces a life shaped by impulse and consequence.—
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The trail traces the canyon rim, and there are no guardrails.—
Verb
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Lopez describes her daughter as an energetic, talkative child who speaks both English and Spanish.—
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Among the more moving cases that Blair describes are those of people who in life were vulnerable and powerless but in death were considered formidable threats.—
Noun
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The movement is considered a response to the ever-present and growing sense of alienation among people, as well as a rejection of the traditional depictions of everyday life in Eastern Europe.—
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Pormanove, 46, was also known online for completing extreme challenges on livestreams, and his death drew public scrutiny for — and an investigation by French authorities into — the streaming platform Kick for allowing creators to share videos that include depictions of physical and verbal abuse.—
Noun
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Job descriptions aren’t always accurate.—
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In contrast, the nearby portraits of presidents from Joe Biden to Bill Clinton are all accompanied by descriptions of their years in office, including Clinton’s 1998 impeachment.—
Verb
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To learn the safest ways to use space heaters, Joshua Gunn, vice president of DREO, outlines the dos and don'ts of this winter gadget.—
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There’s no single gold-standard exercise regimen for women in midlife, although Lyon outlines a few types of protocols in her new book.—
Verb
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Mekia Cox, who portrays Nyla Harper, wed basketball analyst Britt Leach in 2018, according to The Knot.—
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Arnett, Cooper, and Mark Chappell cowrote the screenplay, and Cooper portrays Balls, Alex's actor friend who serves as the film's comic relief.—
Cite this Entry
“Sketches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sketches. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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