smarten (up)

verb

Definition of smarten (up)next
as in to primp

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarten (up)
  1. primp
  2. doll up
  3. preen
  4. dress up
Verb
  • The gladiators are primped by stylists and costume designers before the blood flows.
    — Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Definition of primp
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of doll up
Verb
  • The vaunted single take is, more often than not, actually a falsity, fabricated by clever edits or preening, doing nothing alchemical to the script at hand.
    — Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Ed Burke likely would be preening around the floor of the City Council as 14th Ward alderman.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of preen
Verb
  • Have fun dressing up, and invite your guests to do the same.
    — Maggie Griswold, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Use the treatments on different walls, or use one on the lower half and one on the upper half. 39 of 44 Paint (or Hang) a Mural Adding large-scale artwork is a unique way to dress up your bathroom.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of dress up
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.

Browse Nearby Words

smartens (up)
smarten (up)
smarties
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Cite this Entry

“Smarten (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarten%20%28up%29. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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