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
The Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40, priced at $62,700, is the first to be dressed up in the new gold tone, and has been bestowed with an eye-catching spring green aventurine dial to accentuate its hue, complete with a dash of baguette cut diamonds.
—
Charlie Boyd, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
Doesn’t matter to all the freakin’ idiots who dress up like Santa.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Their top and legs also feature a decorative design that can help dress up your patio or deck.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
People were dressed up as Miranda!
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Charlie Boyd, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
Doesn’t matter to all the freakin’ idiots who dress up like Santa.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Their top and legs also feature a decorative design that can help dress up your patio or deck.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
People were dressed up as Miranda!
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
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Some leaders from southern states also turned up in Parliament dressed in black as a mark of protest.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
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That started with Paul Maurice wearing khaki shorts and a breezy, blue shirt, as if to dress himself into a good mood — or at least try after a season when his two-time Stanley Cup champions admirably walked the gangplank.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cyr said the cameras were disguised as a Bluetooth speaker and an air purifier.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
15 Apr. 2026
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In all, Grant said about 94-95% of the lease revenue on DC Solar’s books were intercompany transfers disguised as new investor money.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Lemon gelatin and candied lemon slices add a spike of citrus.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
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The brand’s Añejo, served with traditional red mole and corn tortillas, has similar hazelnut notes, alongside candied orange and spices.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bathrooms are big and feel extremely luxurious; clad in marble, with rain showers and big bathtubs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
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Elsewhere in the photoshoot, Hosk swam in a pool, clad in a white graphic T-shirt and black underwear.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
10 Apr. 2026
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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But Elham, a contentious and fiercely competitive student, suspects that Marjan’s zeal for anglophone culture, including Hollywood romantic comedies, masks a resentment for the Iranian life she is now stuck with.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
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This hurdle becomes exceptionally steep for adults who have perfected masking their symptoms.—
Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to Bauhus’s research, climate change has rendered the Black Forest largely uninhabitable to spruce.—
Kendra Atleework,
Longreads,
12 Mar. 2026
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Fortunately, the wise old Professor Tangrowth is there to help spruce it up.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There is even a small cabinet positioned right above the washing machine, which keeps laundry detergent accessible while camouflaging the plastic bottle.—
Lindsey Mather,
Architectural Digest,
7 Apr. 2026
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Gray ships were easily seen in profile against the sky and horizon by U-boat periscopes—was there a better color to paint them to help camouflage them from attack?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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