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outline

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun outline differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of outline are contour, profile, and silhouette. While all these words mean "the line that bounds and gives form to something," outline applies to a line marking the outer limits or edges of a body or mass.

traced the outline of his hand

When might contour be a better fit than outline?

The meanings of contour and outline largely overlap; however, contour stresses the quality of an outline or a bounding surface as being smooth, jagged, curving, or sharply angled.

a car with flowing contours

When can profile be used instead of outline?

In some situations, the words profile and outline are roughly equivalent. However, profile suggests a varied and sharply defined outline against a lighter background.

a portrait of her face in profile

When is it sensible to use silhouette instead of outline?

The synonyms silhouette and outline are sometimes interchangeable, but silhouette suggests a shape especially of a head or figure with all detail blacked out in shadow leaving only the outline clearly defined.

photograph in silhouette against a bright sky

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 outline
Verb
The society hosts an annual meeting and publishes news and alerts related to epilepsy drugs. EDITORIAL SOURCES Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 11 Apr. 2025 To prepare for this contingency, Zimmermann devised a plan that, as outlined in his telegram, called for the Germans to enlist Mexico and Japan in an invasion of the United States, with the understanding that Germany would allow Mexico to annex the southwestern corner of the country. Timothy W. Ryback, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
For example, the Docs app now supports 'tabs,' which function like a document outline that appears in an optional left-hand sidebar. PCMAG, 25 Mar. 2025 The outline is part of the broader effort by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, to take an axe to the federal civilian workforce. Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outline
Verb
  • Over the course of more than a decade, the Kendall Jenner school of style’s codes can be traced through her Coachella outfits of choice.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 Apr. 2025
  • While very personal, each of these reactions can be traced back to our evolution: our primal need for reproduction, protection and survival.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The sentencing memorandum, filed in U.S. District Court on April 2 and reviewed by OL, summarizes a massive trafficking network primarily coordinate by Waldrop, who worked with wildlife importers to obtain species from all over the world.
    Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is nothing flashy, but this budget laptop features an Intel AI Boost to streamline your user experience by bringing a digital helper who will answer questions and summarize documents to your fingertips.
    Jade Chung-Lee, PC Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • And adding a few inches to your outfit’s silhouette doesn’t hurt, either.
    Nina Derwin, Glamour, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The capsule also features denim, a Citizens’ hallmark, which appears in easy-wearing silhouettes like the Ayla Baggy and the sculptural Farrow Denim Dress in a rinse denim.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • According to summary provided by the House speaker’s office, the bill includes financial support for special education, bilingual education and pre-kindergarten and a $395 increase in the base amount schools get per student, known as the basic allotment.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
  • On the order summary page, paste your promo code into the Discount Code or Gift Card box, and click Apply to see your savings.
    Malia Griggs, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This translates into Jan having to collaborate with many versions of himself that have unique skills and far too many conflicting personalities defined by past events.
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Strategic decisions made now, around technology investments, partnerships, and customer education, could determine whether a bank remains competitive in a world increasingly defined by digital currency frameworks. 5.
    Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The wave that inspired this project is that of the Adriatic, characterized by a fluid, continuous motion shaped by the contours of the seabed.
    Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Its curved head glides easily over the contours of the face, helping your serums, lotions and creams absorb more easily.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But everything Common Side Effects sketches around that mushroom, from evil corporate board members to complicit government officials to absurdist pharmaceutical ads, feels not just possible but probable.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Researchers around the world spotted an unusual oscillating sine wave sketched across seismographs.
    Darren Orf, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Outline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outline. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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