sophisticate

play

verb so·phis·ti·cate \ sə-ˈfi-stə-ˌkāt \

Definition of sophisticate

sophisticated; sophisticating

transitive verb

1 :to alter deceptively; especially :adulterate

2 :to deprive of genuineness, naturalness, or simplicity; especially :to deprive of naïveté and make worldly-wise :disillusion

3 :to make complicated or complex

See sophisticate defined for kids

Examples of sophisticate in a Sentence

there's no need to sophisticate something that is beautiful in its simplicity
vanilla extract that has been sophisticated with corn syrup

Recent Examples of sophisticate from the Web

What’s more, experts say that if every vehicle on the road had sophisticated autonomous vehicle technology on board, highway officials could make lanes narrower and pack more cars on the road without expensive lane expansion projects.

— marco della cava, Detroit Free Press, "Ready or not, self-driving cars are coming," 25 June 2017
What’s more, experts say that if every vehicle on the road had sophisticated autonomous vehicle technology on board, highway officials could make lanes narrower and pack more cars on the road without expensive lane expansion projects.

— marco della cava, USA TODAY, "Prepared or not, states get ready for self-driving revolution," 25 June 2017
The selections that most closely matched Barnhart’s sophisticated aesthetic worked best.

— bill brownlee, kansascity, "Carole King, James Taylor songs given cabaret treatments in Quality Hill’s ‘You’ve Got a Friend’," 11 June 2017
Sophisticated US leadership is the sine qua non of a stable world order.

— laurie kellman, The Seattle Times, "Carter national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski dies," 26 May 2017
That’s after owner and chef Laurie Williamson’s sophisticated five-course dinner, which changes weekly and is only offered Friday and Saturday.

— celestina blok, star-telegram, "Luxe Texas babymoon destinations for expectant couples," 12 May 2017
The president would trumpet his plan to grow military spending aboard the Navy’s sophisticated new aircraft carrier.

— ashley parker, Twin Cities, "Trump’s weekend: The president rages at leaks, setbacks and accusations," 6 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sophisticate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sophisticate

Middle English, from Medieval Latin sophisticatus, past participle of sophisticare, from Latin sophisticus sophistic, from Greek sophistikos, from sophistēs sophist

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

sophisticate Synonyms

Synonyms

complex, complexify, embarrass, entangle, perplex, complicate

Antonyms

simplify, streamline

Related Words

develop, elaborate, expand; intensify, magnify; confound, confuse, mess (up), mix (up), muddle; snarl, tangle

Near Antonyms

abbreviate, cut, shorten; ease, facilitate; disentangle, straighten (out), unravel, untangle; oversimplify

sophisticate

play

noun so·phis·ti·cate \ sə-ˈfi-sti-kət , -stə-ˌkāt \

Definition of sophisticate

:a sophisticated person

See sophisticate defined for English-language learners

Examples of sophisticate in a Sentence

sophisticates laughing at people they thought of as hicks

Recent Examples of sophisticate from the Web

And in this town of rabid sushi sophisticates, crowning Sabuku Sushi San Diego’s best would be a foolish proposition.

— michele parente, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Is this the most delicious block in San Diego?," 24 Aug. 2017
Teeming with lobbyists, professors and political sophisticates, local officials can barely keep an arms-length from those who seek to influence them.

— sean rossman, USA TODAY, "FBI agents went undercover in Florida's capital for the 'biggest investigation in years'," 15 Aug. 2017
Meanwhile, the investors in Shkreli’s funds were sophisticates with money to burn, Brafman suggested.

— stephanie clifford, The Seattle Times, "Unusual defense in fraud case: Martin Shkreli strange, but ‘brilliant beyond words’," 29 June 2017
Meanwhile, the investors in Mr. Shkreli’s funds were sophisticates with money to burn, Mr. Brafman suggested.

— stephanie clifford, New York Times, "Shkreli’s Lawyer Calls Him ‘Strange’ but Berates Fraud Case Against Him," 28 June 2017
While musicologists now treat Bruckner (1824-96) as a sophisticate, popular discussion of him has long centered on his naïveté, his social fumbling and on esoteric debates about the editing of his scores.

— david allen, New York Times, "A Long Party of Concerts to Celebrate Anton Bruckner," 13 Jan. 2017

First Known Use of sophisticate

1923

sophisticate Synonyms

Synonyms

city slicker, cosmopolite, metropolitan, slicker, cosmopolitan

Antonyms

bumpkin, hick, provincial, rustic, yokel

Related Words

urbanite; worldling

SOPHISTICATE Defined for English Language Learners

sophisticate

play

noun

Definition of sophisticate for English Language Learners

: a person who has a lot of knowledge about the world and about culture, art, literature, etc. : a sophisticated person

Medical Dictionary

sophisticate

play

transitive verb so·phis·ti·cate \ sə-ˈfis-tə-ˌkāt \

medical Definition of sophisticate

sophisticated; sophisticating

:to make impure :adulterate

a sophisticated oil

Learn More about sophisticate

See words that rhyme with sophisticate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sophisticate Britannica English: Translation of sophisticate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up sophisticate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

sophisticate

Definition of sophisticate

Read the Latest from M-W

Examples of sophisticate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of sophisticate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of sophisticate

sophisticate Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

sophisticate

Definition of sophisticate

Examples of sophisticate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of sophisticate from the Web

First Known Use of sophisticate

sophisticate Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

SOPHISTICATE Defined for English Language Learners

sophisticate

Definition of sophisticate for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

sophisticate

medical Definition of sophisticate

Learn More about sophisticate

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Meat Sweats': The Cookout's Worst Nightmare

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066