as in to act up
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
high-spirited cousins who cut up at every family gathering
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in carouser
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cut up
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
Most Popular Notorious murderer Richard Crafts, who used a chain saw to cut up his wife’s body and a wood chipper to dispose of it, is out of prison and living in a halfway house, a state Department of Correction spokeswoman said Friday.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
Martinez was looking at cutups Monday morning of 6-6, 20-year-old right-hander Travis Sykora, Washington’s third-round pick in 2023, who’s coming on, uh, quickly.
—David Aldridge, The Athletic, 27 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cut up
Verb
Or mixed up the sausage filling and Justin’s potato into a kind of hash brown patty, fried them off like Brittany did with the livermush crostini last week, cut up the collard greens into ribbons, and put that on top of the potato and pork?
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
Most Popular Notorious murderer Richard Crafts, who used a chain saw to cut up his wife’s body and a wood chipper to dispose of it, is out of prison and living in a halfway house, a state Department of Correction spokeswoman said Friday.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
There is a video cutup that has frequented social media over the last year featuring all of Edwards’ missed shots at the end of close games.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
Martinez was looking at cutups Monday morning of 6-6, 20-year-old right-hander Travis Sykora, Washington’s third-round pick in 2023, who’s coming on, uh, quickly.
—David Aldridge, The Athletic, 27 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cut up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut up
Verb
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There is no defeat quite like sitting down for a gaming session after a 10-hour workday, hoping to get your woes out by winning some battles, but your ancient monitor decides to act up.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
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The capsule’s toilet is already acting up.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Our actual political landscape, in which government officials are adding journalists to top-secret group chats or running around in wrong-sized shoes as a form of flattery, has too far superseded anything even the most cutting jokester could ever have dreamed up.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
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And, of course, radio jokester and provocateur Stern.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Take William Shakespeare, who is often portrayed as a carouser, downing pints while exchanging barbs with his fellow writers, cheating on his wife with both men and women, passionately engaging his quill to reimagine the very nature of the human being.—
Isaac Butler,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Diane Kruger shows off the intricate details of her dress at the Tiffany & Co.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
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The teams are the best from Performance Cheer divisions ages 15 to 18 and show off their precision, artistry and athleticism.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Less so, the 2026 Grand Prix and actor (Ignacy Liss) win for Poland’s ‘Proud,’ about a young gay party animal suddenly forced to step up his game and take care of his sister’s baby.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2026
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Troup's father, Guppy Troup, is in the PBA Hall of Fame, and was a renowned party animal in his prime.—
Robert Lloyd,
Houston Chronicle,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bevel was horsing around with the Reverend James Orange and Andy Young in the courtyard under King's balcony, according to Orange.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
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But Andrew continued to live at the home and was often seen riding his horse around Windsor Great Park and photographed waving to crowds.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Virtually every black comedian, and Bill Burr, was on hand to pay tribute to Eddie Murphy on Saturday night as he was awarded the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.—
John Ross,
Vanity Fair,
19 Apr. 2026
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Now Kocak is a writer, podcaster (Private Parts Unknown), and comedian who divides her time between Austin, Texas and Los Angeles.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And this fool is taking it with the fools around him.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
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And there’s this: No fooling around in mid-June and having a life event get in the way of the March Madness get-together nine months later.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cut up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut%20up. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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