as in cosmopolitan
a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers
sophisticates laughing at people they thought of as hicks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to complex
to make complex or difficult
there's no need to sophisticate something that is beautiful in its simplicity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to dilute
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
vanilla extract that has been sophisticated with corn syrup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sophisticate
Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
Our whole watch staff has been struck by the pale green watches of early 2024, by how the calm color sophisticates and distinguishes a watch without falling into overstatement, ostentation, or bling.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2024
Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024
Plus, the vegan leather accents, as Oprah mentioned, really sophisticate the piece and pull its colors together.
—Kayla Blanton, Peoplemag, 28 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for sophisticate 
Noun
The idea, which came from screenwriter Richard Curtis, was to have two upper-middle-class urban sophisticates subbing in for the rural Wayne archetype.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
Our whole watch staff has been struck by the pale green watches of early 2024, by how the calm color sophisticates and distinguishes a watch without falling into overstatement, ostentation, or bling.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2024
Verb
Rapid digital transformations have sophisticated modern consumers expecting seamless, personalized brand interactions across channels — transient engagements that must delight customers to earn their loyalty.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024
Plus, the vegan leather accents, as Oprah mentioned, really sophisticate the piece and pull its colors together.
—Kayla Blanton, Peoplemag, 28 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for sophisticate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sophisticate
Noun
-
Wildlife fanatics flock to Masai Mara for once-in-a-lifetime safaris, beach lovers island-hop through the turquoise waters of the Lamu Archipelago, and cosmopolitans appreciate Nairobi's growing culinary and art scene.—
Hannah Towey,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Oct. 2024
-
Just like globalization forced us all to become cosmopolitans (citizens of the universe) by breaking spatial boundaries, the aging of the internet compels us to become archeopolitans—citizens of an archive—by breaking down temporal boundaries.—
Carl Öhman,
TIME,
31 July 2024
Verb
-
Take the tablet straight to the furniture for scrubbing, or dilute it with water for a gentler cleanse.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2025
-
That’s not a bad thing: Even 12 years after its release, Elf remains a pretty stellar all-ages comedy that doesn’t dilute Ferrell’s manic mayhem but rather boils it down to its most accessible and lovable.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Her daughter, 14-year-old Joey’s coming-of-age battles are further complicated by the unexpected onset of superpowers.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The third edition of the upstairs-downstairs dramedy, named for a fictional chain of upscale resorts, both continues this trajectory and complicates it.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Grease dirtied the handles of the ovens, the microwave ovens and the coolers.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Instead of dirtying a larger pot for your supporting dishes, this quaint cooker will come in handy for quick (or slower simmering) concoctions while matching your kitchen atmosphere.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The deal reportedly loads an extra $2 billion of debt onto Cotiviti's balance sheet — bringing total debt to $7 billion and giving its PE backers very little room for error.—
Claire Rychlewski,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
-
There were also complications in loading the set only the field, car and all, which has under 10 feet of clearance space at the one tunnel the stadium has leading into the area.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
With Tranquil Pines, Matty and Olympia win their case by proving that Lucille poisoned Walter.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have long hated the British media and framed their declining popularity in the U.K. as a product of tabloids poisoning the well of public opinion.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
2 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
That means thinning flammable vegetation, training more firefighters, and bolstering water infrastructure.—
Umair Irfan,
Vox,
5 Feb. 2025
-
Tweeze with caution There are multitude of possible reasons why your eyebrows are thinning.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Those underground punks went so hard that NBC was bombarded with complaints in real time, leading the network to cut away from the performance to a pre-recorded sketch.—
Shannon Carlin,
TIME,
15 Feb. 2025
-
In late 2022 and early 2023, which saw hundreds of thousands of tech jobs cut, the hiring rate bounced between 3.8% and 4.1%.—
Bailey Schulz,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near sophisticate
Cite this Entry
“Sophisticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophisticate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share