Meaning & use
psychological portrait
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Meaning
nouncountable
A detailed description or understanding of a person's character, emotions, and mental patterns.
Grammar: Countable: a psychological portrait, psychological portraits. Often used with verbs like draw, paint, or create.
Patterns
- draw a psychological portrait of someone
- paint a psychological portrait
- a psychological portrait of someone
The biography draws a vivid psychological portrait of the artist as a troubled genius.
The novel offers a psychological portrait of a woman struggling with grief.
The therapist created a psychological portrait of the patient to guide treatment.
Word forms
| plural | psychological portraits |
|---|
Common combinations
- draw a psychological portrait
- The film draws a psychological portrait of a soldier returning from war.
- a detailed psychological portrait
- Her book provides a detailed psychological portrait of the dictator.
- paint a psychological portrait
- The author paints a psychological portrait of a family in crisis.
Synonyms and how they differ
- profile
- A profile is a shorter, often factual summary, while a psychological portrait emphasizes inner life and character.
- character study
- A character study is similar but often used in literature and drama; psychological portrait is broader and can be clinical.
Word family
- psychology noun
- The study of the mind and behavior.
- psychological adjective
- Relating to the mind.
- psychologist noun
- A person who studies psychology.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'psychological portrait' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is followed by 'of' to show whose portrait it is. The other prepositions do not fit this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “psychological portrait”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.