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
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Recent Examples of dress up
All dressed up with a holiday table to go to!
—
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Making the most of Halloween, Hilton also dressed up as Peter Pan's Tinker Bell and Cat Woman after wearing two looks inspired by Britney Spears in the days prior.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
None of us dressed up, actually.
—Tyler Palmateer, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Nov. 2025
Teyana Taylor as Perfidia Beverly Hills Teyana Taylor also dressed up as her own movie character, hitting up the 2025 Costume Couture Halloween Party as Perfidia Beverly Hills from One Battle After Another.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Making the most of Halloween, Hilton also dressed up as Peter Pan's Tinker Bell and Cat Woman after wearing two looks inspired by Britney Spears in the days prior.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
None of us dressed up, actually.
—Tyler Palmateer, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Nov. 2025
Teyana Taylor as Perfidia Beverly Hills Teyana Taylor also dressed up as her own movie character, hitting up the 2025 Costume Couture Halloween Party as Perfidia Beverly Hills from One Battle After Another.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
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To dress this look up even more, pair it with a pair of black tights and boots.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
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The star dressed as a Love Zombie, which is also the name of her latest single.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Drape one across your mantel to disguise your stocking hardware, or greet guests with a front door wreath that helps to create a welcoming entrance.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
5 Nov. 2025
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Iranian exporters often transfer cargoes between shadow fleet vessels—at times with the aid of tugboats—in the Persian Gulf and in waters off the coast of Singapore and Malaysia in order to disguise the origin of their cargoes.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The store clerk directs me to the sample station that’s lined with over a dozen different pecan variations: candied, chocolate coated, jalapeño dusted, and raw.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
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We were not provided a sample to try yet, but the official tasting notes describe sweet cinnamon toast, fruit nougat, and candied nuts on the nose.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The open main floor is clad in calming white oak, which has been used for custom built-ins that serve as functional yet design-forward storage spaces.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
31 Oct. 2025
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The emperor was not, in fact, clad in the finest suit.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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Having help on both sides has helped his performance, though the move has masked some of his technical deficiencies and overall rawness as a player.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
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And the foundation appears to be lying to publishers about this—as well as masking the actual contents of its archives.—
Alex Reisner,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The 34-mile road winds through several ecosystems from cove hardwood to northern hardwood to pine oak to spruce fir.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
13 Aug. 2025
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Today’s Amazon deals are all about sprucing things up: your desktop setup, your tablet experience, and your audio at home or the beach.—
Shubham Yewale,
PCMAG,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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When asked about this tactic, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said that the agency believes its employees are not camouflaging their identities.—
NPR,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
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These snacks, treats, and sides complement and camouflage the earthier side of the plant in truly delicious recipes.—
Editors of Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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