1
as in gown
a garment with a joined blouse and skirt usually worn by a woman or girl
what a lovely dress you're wearing today!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in clothes
covering for the human body
a businessman who is very conservative in his dress
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in look
the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality
another version of the Cinderella story but in modern-romance dress
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in formal
relating to or suitable for wearing to an event requiring elegant dress and manners
the naval commander wore his dress uniform to the ball
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to decorate
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming
let's dress up the room with some greenery for the holiday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
dress the granite block to be used as the headstone on all four sides
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to costume
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes
dressed the young girl in satin and lace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to clothe
to put on one's best or formal clothes
we don't usually dress for dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to grow
to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care
dress the beans by applying fertilizer once a week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dress
Anika Reed, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
The dress is made from a fine-gauge knit that offers warmth without feeling bulky, which is essential for fluctuating weather.
—Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Visitors of all ages were dressed in their autumn best.
—Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress
Noun
Valletta originally modeled the daring dress on the 1999 runway for the Versace spring/summer 2000 show.
—Anika Reed, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
The dress is made from a fine-gauge knit that offers warmth without feeling bulky, which is essential for fluctuating weather.
—Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
Keroppi deserves to be a star and Tuxedo Sam is already dressed for the premiere.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Visitors of all ages were dressed in their autumn best.
—Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress
Noun
-
The hair matched her shimmering, orange-gold Gucci gown and dramatic makeup beat.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Among the first to draw the camera flashes were Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber, the ultimate mother-daughter duo, both in custom Gucci gowns.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Her critique also reflected (and amplified) a widespread suspicion—that trans femininity was always a performance, a costume.—
James Marcus,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
One of the most impressive aspects of Smith’s costume design is the fact that each character, no matter how small, has their own distinct look that still feels of a piece with the overall world.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This lush faux Norfolk pine garland features a more irregular, layered look for an organic feel.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
5 Nov. 2025
-
In the capital, Caracas, CNN took a rare look at the application.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
All are dressed in period garb — Clarkson in a gorgeous gown and her band, My Band Y’all, led by musical director and keyboardist Jason Halbert, in formal white dinner jackets typical of musical acts at the time.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
In Scotland, then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a formal apology in 2022 to the thousands of people – mostly women – who were accused and executed under the country’s Witchcraft Act between the 16th and 18th centuries.—
James Frater,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The eye was later bandaged, and the UFC will wait for the UK tests before coming up with the final suspension.—
Antonio Losada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Teasing the new season at the beginning of the first episode, which dropped on Thursday, the entrepreneur and reality star is seen going into an MRI scanner with her head appearing to be bandaged.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Each of the 31 rooms has been decorated by the Smith family, which has owned the property since the early 1990s.—
Cat Sposato,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Sweeney wore the beige suede Maysale pump from Manolo Blahnik, which stands out with a square buckle detail decorating the vamp.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Most recently, Alverson has also dipped his toe into advising sorority hopefuls as a rush coach — part of an emerging market for girls looking to polish up their image before heading off to college.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Its software ecosystem is polished, and its hardware is mature.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Grammy-winning artist appeared at Madrid’s Gran Vía to reveal the official album artwork, a photograph of her in nuns attire against a baby-blue backdrop.—
Thania Garcia,
Variety,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The secret venue, lighting and ambience are supplied by host Triple Pocket Events, but diners, attired entirely in white, must supply their own picnic meal, white tables, chairs, cloths, dishware, cutlery and French wine and champagne.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share