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
Relevance
1
2
as in carouser
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 cut up
Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026
The Gates Foundation plans to cut up to 500 jobs, or about 20% of its staff, in the coming years as part of a long-term restructuring, as the foundation also undergoes an external review of its ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 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
People in yards cut up tree trunks and piled tree branches.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026
The Gates Foundation plans to cut up to 500 jobs, or about 20% of its staff, in the coming years as part of a long-term restructuring, as the foundation also undergoes an external review of its ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 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
-
Baye continued acting up until 2023.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Bizarre behavior, sure, but LeBron is known as a bit of a jokester, so no harm, no foul here.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
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
-
Tablecloths are black and lights ultra low, the better to show off the exquisite, almost otherworldly dishes.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Look up to see the colorful canvas panels, hand-painted by Rajasthani artists, showing off more of the local flora and fauna.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Ortiz navigated past 17 other horses around the final turn and made a hard charge down the stretch.—
Stephen Whyno,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
Ortiz navigated past 17 other horses around the final turn and made a hard charge down the stretch.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
In the years after Dolman’s death, the comedian acknowledged that his children navigated a tumultuous time without their mother.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
Tom Brady, who was the victim of Netflix’s last celebrity roast in 2024, made a surprise appearance at Kevin Hart’s roast Sunday to launch a few jokes at the comedian before the night got underway.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Another horny couple on vacation couldn’t wait until their flight landed to fool around and insisted on doing so in the plane's cabin.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
And this fool is taking it with the fools around him.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cut up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut%20up. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
