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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1
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as in carouser
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cut up
Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026
Cleaning and Organizational Supplies Keep an eye out for unused kitchen linens and old beach towels that can be cut up and used as rags.
—Ashley Poskin, Martha Stewart, 1 Feb. 2026
David Aldridge, The Athletic, 27 Aug. 2024
Apparently all-in on Reynolds, Hollywood is now reasoning that his star power — some chemically adhesive combination of dashing leading man, comic-relief cutup, and lifestyle mogul — will prove irresistible regardless of the context.
—A.a. Dowd, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for cut up
Verb
How to Prune Viburnum Use sharp hand pruners for smaller cuts up to the diameter of a pencil, and loppers or a pruning saw for larger cuts.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026
Cleaning and Organizational Supplies Keep an eye out for unused kitchen linens and old beach towels that can be cut up and used as rags.
—Ashley Poskin, Martha Stewart, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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
Apparently all-in on Reynolds, Hollywood is now reasoning that his star power — some chemically adhesive combination of dashing leading man, comic-relief cutup, and lifestyle mogul — will prove irresistible regardless of the context.
—A.a. Dowd, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for cut up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut up
Verb
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Excess dust may also cause your allergies to act up.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
22 Feb. 2026
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Koutouvides transitioned to life after football, found success in real estate development throughout Connecticut, but the pain of losing the Super Bowl twinges and acts up like an old joint injury.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Sam, meanwhile, was a jokester much of the time but took his pilot training seriously.—
Emma Hurt,
AJC.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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Her jokester father worked for a railway; her realtor mother was a gifted mimic whose impressions of clients enlivened family dinners.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
10 Feb. 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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Embroidered black flowers and vines on the jacket added a dash of Goth, while the cropped trousers showed off a pair of suede kitten-heel boots.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
2 Mar. 2026
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Adam Brody showed off the elegant Cartier Tank à Guichets that debuted at Watches and Wonders last year.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The couple fought about money, household chores, and Anton's alleged reputation as a party animal.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
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The legendary nightlife scene in Belgrade, Serbia, is the recommendation for party animals in Europe.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
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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In April 2020, Iglesias shared a video of him horsing around with Lucy and Nicholas as the pair attempted to climb on his back for a ride.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Hear comedians workshop their jokes Hear some jokes-in-progress from Cincinnati's local talent.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Mar. 2026
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Include the name of the band, solo artist or comedian, and the year of their performance.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bella Ramsey takes a break from killing zombies and avenging father figures, their usual pastimes in series The Last of Us, to fool around and fall in love in Sunny Dancer, a decidedly uneven but fitfully charming, YA-skewed British comedy-drama.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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The transition was rough for Ansari, who wasn’t fluent in English and often got in trouble for fooling around in school.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cut up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut%20up. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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