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
  • 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
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
  • 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
  • Here it has been conceived as a one-woman monologue, with Snook playing not only the preening protagonist but 25 additional characters over the course of two breathless hours.
    — Hannah-Rose Yee, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of preen
Verb
  • The versatile style can be dressed up or down, so style it with a T-shirt and sneakers or a blazer and kitten heels, depending on where you’re headed — compliments are guaranteed.
    — Melony Forcier, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
  • With a filling of apples and mixed berries, Costco’s new apple berry pie is essentially the iconic apple pie dressed up for spring.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 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.

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“Smarten (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarten%20%28up%29. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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