dolling up

verb

present participle of doll up
1
as in decorating
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming if you were to doll up those Shaker-style rooms, you'd ruin their simple elegance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dressing
to put on one's best or formal clothes got all dolled up for the party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dolling up
  1. decorating
  2. dressing
  3. adorning
  4. dressing up
  5. doing up
Verb
  • Fairytale was the theme for Chanel — decorating a faux salon at the Grand Palais with giant vines and surreal flowers, inspired by both Jack and the Beanstalk and the 1990s movie Jumanji.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 10 July 2026
  • The couple reportedly transformed Madison Square Garden into a forest, decorating the venue with real trees.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 8 July 2026
Definition of decorating
Verb
  • The throwback design also spoke to the ancient Greek and goddess-inspired dressing Zendaya and Roach have embraced for this press tour.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 13 July 2026
  • Zendaya and Roach kept their streak of robotic, cyborg dressing going by putting her in a vintage circuit board-esque skirt-suit from Alexander McQueen’s 1999 collection for Givenchy.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026
Definition of dressing
Verb
  • The Wingman looks much the same as the 2024-debut Safari Cruiser, albeit with a different accessory set adorning its exterior and interior.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 July 2026
  • But Miller's choice of further adorning her chains with pretty pearl charms is what really takes her style game to the next level.
    — Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 13 July 2026
Definition of adorning
Verb
  • Summerween treats dressing up as a warm-weather activity, no trick-or-treating required.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
  • Fair highlights Despite the ongoing issues, the sparse number of visitors entertained themselves with interactive exhibits, like dressing up as former President George Washington or speaking with an actress portraying Betsy Ross.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 26 June 2026
Definition of dressing up
Verb
  • What in the world are those overgrown basketballs doing up there?
    — Rui Bo, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
  • Wednesday’s practice started with some of the players doing up-downs after forgetting equipment.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of doing up
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.

Browse Nearby Words

dollies
dolling up
dollish
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Cite this Entry

“Dolling up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dolling%20up. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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