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titivate, spruce up, smarten up, or spiff up?
Titivate, spruce, smarten, and spiff all mean "to make a person or thing neater or more attractive." Titivate often refers to making small additions or alterations in attire ("titivate the costume with sequins and other accessories"), but it can also be used figuratively (as in "titivating the script for Broadway"). Spruce up is sometimes used for cosmetic changes or renovations that give the appearance of newness ("spruce up the house with new shutters and fresh paint before trying to sell it"). Smarten up and spiff up both mean to improve in appearance often by making more neat or stylish ("the tailor smartened up the suit with minor alterations"; "he needed some time to spiff himself up for the party"). The origins of titivate are uncertain, but it may have been formed from the English words tidy and renovate.
Examples of spiff in a Sentence
Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 5 Apr. 2026
In October 2022, David Geffen Hall, home to the New York Philharmonic, reopened after a major renovation that aimed to improve the venue’s acoustics and spiff it up with a modern look.
—Alex Erdekian, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
As the host of monthly Detroit-style pizza pop-ups as well as a half-dozen woodfired pizza nights each summer (each with a different menu), Schroeder often daydreams about how to spiff up his slices.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025
With some women’s clothing also showing increases, will skilled tailors who can restyle and spiff up used dresses, tops and pants be able to raise rates without losing customers?
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiff
Cite this Entry
“Spiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiff. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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