preen

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 preen Washington approaches the role like a preening peacock or a man showing off all his toys, and at first, his constant finicking might seem like a tic. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024 Here are five takeaways from the Bruins’ latest victory: Support system Foster wasn’t the only coach who could preen. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024 Which brings us to the most galling mystery of the season: How on earth does this preening man-child get engaged? Laura Bradley, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2024 As Henry, Law is a galactic and mercurial presence — alternately preening and embittered and needy and contemptuous but always very loudly so. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for preen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preen
Verb
  • Europe sidelined? Moscow, of course, is gloating at the relegation of Europe to bystander.
    Clare Sebastian, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025
  • Barkley passed on the chance to gloat and mock his former employers.
    David K. Li, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Seymour shared a glimpse of the show’s backstage glamour as she was dressed and primped for the catwalk.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Image Image In Dili, the capital, streets were scrubbed and walls freshly painted to primp for the papal trip.
    Sui-Lee Wee, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Messi, at 35, led his country to glory against France, winning soccer’s ultimate prize in a pulsating match that finished 3-3 after extra time and had to be settled by a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
    Patrick Smith, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2022
  • If Harris can bring together a family with Indian, African, and Jewish heritage, America can glory in its diversity.
    Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 26 Aug. 2020
Verb
  • During an appearance before Trump supporters in Washington on Monday, Mr. Musk, who is also the chief executive of SpaceX, exulted that the president had promised to send astronauts to Mars.
    Jack Ewing, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
  • The real problem, though, was that my college years fell in the middle of a triumphalist era, with the Soviet Union smoldering on the ash heap and America exulting in its victory over history.
    Michael Moynihan, airmail.news, 26 Oct. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Preen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preen. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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