Synonyms for pencil

Most common

paint · sketch

All synonyms

Verb

Noun

Definitions

1. v. 1

   To write (something) using a pencil.

   I penciled (BrE: pencilled) a brief reminder in my notebook.

2. n. 1

   A writing utensil with a graphite (commonly referred to as lead) shaft, usually blended with clay, clad in wood, and sharpened to a taper.

Related words

Word family

pencil-thin

Phrases

mechanical pencil pencil pusher pencil sharpener china pencil grease pencil wax pencil lead pencil pencil box

Forms

Plural

pencils → brushes, beams, crayons…

Past participle

penciled
e.g. penciled → sketched, painted, delineated, depicted…

Example sentences

• paint Oil on canvas can never paint a petal so delicate.
• sketch Once the sketch is completed, ink it with a nib pen.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

beam¹

5 letters

paint¹, brush¹

6 letters

sketch¹, depict², crayon²

7 letters

portray²

9 letters

delineate⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (depict² = 2 syllables).