OUTLINES Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

outlines 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of outline

as in traces

to draw or make apparent the outline of she carefully outlined the tree before she started drawing in the leaves

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Relevance

as in summarizes

to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) outlined the important points in the introduction

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

outlines

2 of 2

noun

plural of outline

as in contours

a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface place your hand on the paper and draw an outline around it

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in summaries

a short statement of the main points a printed outline of the lecture has been made available for all attendees

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of outlines

Verb

However, the order also outlines administrative steps that must occur first. — Deepa Shivaram, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026 The rewards Gates, ever the optimist, also outlines some major boons the technology holds. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 The university’s master plan also outlines plans to include over 25 new buildings including dorms, sport facilities, parking lots and classrooms. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026 The former outlines requirements that would prohibit an individual from becoming an owner or director of a club. — Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The Minneapolis police report outlines the response of more than 150 first responders, detailing their movements and actions throughout the day, including locating the 23-year-old suspect, treating victims and clearing rooms inside the church. — Beret Leone, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 In a new column, Cassidy warns of trouble in the bond markets—and outlines how rising interest rates on mortgages, car loans, and other forms of consumer credit are putting pressure on the White House ahead of the midterms. — Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 The financial penalties are wide-ranging, banning nearly all US trade with Iran, blocking Iranian government assets in the country and prohibiting foreign assistance and arms sales, the report outlines. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026 That provision outlines employee telework requests are to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

Abrams said the broad outlines of a war with Iran, including it contesting the Strait of Hormuz, were well understood in national security circles before the fighting began. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026 Many of the risks Gates outlines are specific to richer, Western countries. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026 To ensure a net gain, our agency completely avoids cliché prompts and invests significant time in sharpening them with firsthand data, raw outlines and strict audience constraints. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 In his experimental doc, Wadimoff has the Palestinian refugees recreate the experiences of their escape from Gaza on a barren stage marked out by chalk outlines, in the style of Lars von Trier’s Dogville. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 The sky was a smoky grayish-orange and trees a few hundred yards away had turned to ghostly outlines. — Lorraine Boissoneault, STAT, 12 Aug. 2026 But classes, workshops, books and experience have taught me practical approaches to developing outlines, deepening character arcs or revising scenes. — Rajani Larocca, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026 Compressed color values—in contrast to the wide modulations in tone that Cassatt allowed elsewhere—heighten the sense of mass, while unexpected bright blue outlines seal their contours. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 Alternatively, the president could start over and build a plan consistent with the doctrine’s outlines. — Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlines

Verb

Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which traces its roots to 1954, involved around 18,000 Korean troops and an undisclosed number of American soldiers this year.

— Lisa Kim, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Where dirty sodas came from The category traces back to Utah, where soda shops became weekend social hubs partly because the local culture does not revolve around alcohol.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of traces

Verb

For the past two years, most of healthcare's AI conversation has centered on the co-pilot—a smart assistant that drafts a note, summarizes a chart or answers a question while a human stays firmly in the driver's seat.

— Tammy Hawes, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
In many cases, user behavior may be influenced by whether a source is cited, if a brand is mentioned, or if an answer summarizes the topic accurately.

— Matthew Kayser, IndyStar, 23 July 2026

Definition of summarizes

Noun

Despite this, black jackets and hair in the party scenes look properly dark while still showing their cuts and contours, and white shirts, lights, and balloons in the same shots all look bright while similarly preserving details.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026
Compressed color values—in contrast to the wide modulations in tone that Cassatt allowed elsewhere—heighten the sense of mass, while unexpected bright blue outlines seal their contours.

— Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of contours

Noun

The memo provides a summary of the agreement between Google and Entergy, as well as summaries of testimony provided by Entergy officials in support of the contract.

— Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
Structuring this with clean schema, FAQs and listicles ensures both AI summaries and real searchers choose our client’s sites.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of summaries

Verb

What defines these destinations is not just their beauty, but their balance.

— Sofia Markovich, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
Keeping Pluto a dwarf planet better defines what a planet is and prevents an awkward situation in the future in which schoolchildren (and the rest of us) would have to remember upwards of 100 planets.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of defines

Noun

But Jarmond later worked with a search committee that included prominent UCLA figures Bob Myers, Adam Peters and Casey Wasserman on the hiring of Bob Chesney, who quickly injected hope and optimism into the football program.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
The backlash went beyond online and reached political figures like New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who sent The Met committee a letter urging them to reconsider honoring Galliano.

— Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of figures

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“Outlines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlines. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of outlines

verb

noun

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