1
as in to dress
to put on one's best or formal clothes
we always like to dress up when going to parties
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to disguise
to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity
the war was a fiasco that the administration tried to dress up as a triumph
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in to clothe
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes
the girls were dressed up in skirts or dresses, but the boys were wearing jeans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dress up
They can be dressed up with a little black dress or down with jeans or sweats.
—
Robyn Merrett, StyleCaster, 19 Feb. 2025
People don’t dress up for the theater, the opera, work or travel.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Variety caught up with the Happy Gilmore star and a reporter for the outlet couldn't help but note that Adam was dressed up in black tie.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
Adidas Essentials 3-Stripes Pants $50 $34 at Amazon Besides offering a sporty vibe, these Adidas joggers are more dressed up than a pair of baggy sweatpants while still giving you the comfort of your favorite pajama bottoms.
—Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Robyn Merrett, StyleCaster, 19 Feb. 2025
People don’t dress up for the theater, the opera, work or travel.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Variety caught up with the Happy Gilmore star and a reporter for the outlet couldn't help but note that Adam was dressed up in black tie.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
Adidas Essentials 3-Stripes Pants $50 $34 at Amazon Besides offering a sporty vibe, these Adidas joggers are more dressed up than a pair of baggy sweatpants while still giving you the comfort of your favorite pajama bottoms.
—Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
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In the studio, Prieto, dressed in a white guayabera and jeans, surveyed the image.—
Stephania Taladrid,
The New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2025
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Seated along the sidewalk outside Cafe Tropical, the singer, dressed in dark-wash denim and kitten heels, orders a Diet Coke and a trio of the Cuban cafe’s signature pastelitos.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Recognizing coercive control can be difficult, especially when it’s disguised as love or concern.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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This includes language about social justice, female empowerment and LGBTQ+ rights, and staffers have been encouraged to report anyone who attempts to disguise DEI efforts.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Lard was substituted with oil and raisin, [and] pine nuts and candied fruit were added to the dough.—
Michelle Tchea,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
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Combine candied cherries, grated lemon rind and 1/4 cup of dry ingredients.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The model attended Aaron Esh’s dinner event at London's The House of KOKO on Sunday, Feb. 23, clad in a look that left little to the imagination.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
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The gunman, clad in a red-and-black sweatshirt, dark-colored pants and black sneakers, ran off from the scene on White Plains Road near Pelham Parkway South, leaving behind two shell casings, police said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Wearing a look inspired by Barbie herself, Margot Robbie dolls up at this year's Gotham Awards on Nov. 27 in N.Y.C. 43 of 80 Night to Remember Bradley Cooper waves to onlookers outside of the 2023 Gotham Awards in New York City on Nov. 27.—
Zoey Lyttle,
Peoplemag,
30 Nov. 2023
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To further doll up your kitchen, Hilton’s main cutlery set features eight luxuriously golden knives with soft pink handles and gold accents.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2023
Verb
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Beef tallow skincare products sometimes contain essential oils to mask or enhance the product’s smell.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
20 Feb. 2025
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Unlike covert narcissists, who mask their behavior with self-pity, grandiose narcissists rely on charm and manipulation to thrive.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Today’s Amazon deals are all about sprucing things up: your desktop setup, your tablet experience, and your audio at home or the beach.—
Shubham Yewale,
PCMAG,
20 Feb. 2025
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Pick from a number of different toppings to spruce it up, but if your stomach is feeling a little uneasy, order a plain bowl to help settle it down.—
Christina Liao,
Vogue,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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By Tuesday afternoon, the plane wreckage was barely recognizable, camouflaged against the ground by snow plastered across the frozen fuselage, its left wing crumpled and right wing missing.—
Andy Rose,
CNN,
18 Feb. 2025
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Sometimes applying a furniture-grade oil over the whole surface can camouflage grease stains.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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