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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
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
Where to Find Design Elements to Perk Up Your Space
Just like there are several ways to spiff up your space, there are also plenty of places to source items.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2025
Tidy up all those tight spaces—tub seals, sink drains, car vents—or spiff up a pair of muddy sneakers.
—Ella Field, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 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 19 Aug. 2025.
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