1
as in to dress
to put on one's best or formal clothes
we always like to dress up when going to parties
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to disguise
to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity
the war was a fiasco that the administration tried to dress up as a triumph
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in to clothe
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes
the girls were dressed up in skirts or dresses, but the boys were wearing jeans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dress up
Some dressed up in costumes such as The Lorax or a leprechaun.
—
Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Unlike the fanny pack your parents used to wear, this cool bag can be worn casually or dressed up for a night out.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026
Next to the body is an empty Bloody Mary can and an old poster of a naked dude dressed up like Indiana Jones.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
But those are only a few ways to dress up this classic recipe.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Unlike the fanny pack your parents used to wear, this cool bag can be worn casually or dressed up for a night out.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026
Next to the body is an empty Bloody Mary can and an old poster of a naked dude dressed up like Indiana Jones.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
But those are only a few ways to dress up this classic recipe.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
-
Alex Garcia’s cheeseburger tartare is a mound of rib-eye sliced by hand into dice-sized squares of meat, dressed in a vinaigrette that zips with pickle brine, soy, mustard and even a squirt or two of ketchup.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Wear these y with your go-to white T-shirt and jeans, dress them up with slacks and a blazer, or out to drinks in your favorite party dress.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Podiatrists and Oprah alike love Vionic shoes for their orthotic-level comfort disguised with designer-level style, and the Kearny sneakers are proof.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Hairstylist Gregory Russell, who frequently works with the star, pulled her hair back tightly and cinched the lengths right at the crown of her head, wrapping a thick portion of hair around the base to disguise the elastic.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The most recent version was an elegant assemblage of more cohesive cake with orange supremes and chocolate ganache and chocolate sauce and candied orange peels.—
Mike Sutter,
San Antonio Express-News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Inside were candied almonds and hazelnuts in coatings the colors of raspberries and coffee, basil and lemons.—
Adam Erace,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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According to the indictment, a group of people clad in black and wearing masks, some carrying firearms and wearing body armor, shot fireworks toward the center and vandalized vehicles and a guard shed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The frames are wood on the interior and clad with vinyl or aluminum on the exterior side, giving you the best of both worlds.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Looking to doll up your collarbones instead?—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
7 Oct. 2025
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The store had to be closed for several days while volunteers set the dolls up for display, and only 25 shoppers could be allowed in at a time for viewing because of the dolls’ values.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And bathing a cat, especially with scented soaps, can mask that scent, which can cause stress and anxiety.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
27 Feb. 2026
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Close your windows and curtains; and mask the noise with a white noise calming system.—
Jessica Moore,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Fortunately, the wise old Professor Tangrowth is there to help spruce it up.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Something always needs stabilizing, fixing or sprucing in a 174-year-old building.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Dark wash jeans and jackets flexed their versatility, paired with everything from cropped tweed jackets to camouflage cargo shorts and slouch boots.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
27 Feb. 2026
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For older water stains or for camouflaging other stains, Mock advises following a process that aims to blend the stain with the surrounding area, as lifting the stain entirely isn’t possible without discoloring the leather.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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