1
as in dressed
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 disguised
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
as in candied
to make more desirable
dressed up the house with new windows and a paint job before putting it on the market
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in clad
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
1
as in decked (out)
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 dressed up
Tony Cook, IndyStar, 18 Oct. 2025
Attendees in Sacramento included Shawn Brower and Daniel Belshe, both dressed up in an inflatable hippo and dinosaur costume, who have been together for 12 years, married for one.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Most of the other acts featured students dressed up in costumes or snazzy duds.
—Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
On Friday night there was also a children’s carnival and many little ones came dressed up in their Halloween costumes.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
There is something so timelessly collegiate about this piece; it can be dressed up with trousers and a formal shirt, or styled with a more relaxed vibe a la Robert Redford in Three Days of the Condor with jeans and a sweater.
—Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2025
Lopez was dressed up as Daphne Parrish, her character in the film, and wore Manolo Blahnik‘s Camparinew mary jane pumps.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
On September 27, the Goop founder got all dressed up for her birthday festivities in Portofino, Italy.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Made from a cozy cotton and polyester blend, this versatile long-sleeve shirt will be a standout in your suitcase for the ease of which it can be dressed up and down, as well as its effortlessly cool finish.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Protesters dressed up as inflatable frogs and chickens.
—Tony Cook, IndyStar, 18 Oct. 2025
Attendees in Sacramento included Shawn Brower and Daniel Belshe, both dressed up in an inflatable hippo and dinosaur costume, who have been together for 12 years, married for one.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Most of the other acts featured students dressed up in costumes or snazzy duds.
—Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
On Friday night there was also a children’s carnival and many little ones came dressed up in their Halloween costumes.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
There is something so timelessly collegiate about this piece; it can be dressed up with trousers and a formal shirt, or styled with a more relaxed vibe a la Robert Redford in Three Days of the Condor with jeans and a sweater.
—Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2025
Lopez was dressed up as Daphne Parrish, her character in the film, and wore Manolo Blahnik‘s Camparinew mary jane pumps.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
On September 27, the Goop founder got all dressed up for her birthday festivities in Portofino, Italy.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Made from a cozy cotton and polyester blend, this versatile long-sleeve shirt will be a standout in your suitcase for the ease of which it can be dressed up and down, as well as its effortlessly cool finish.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressed up
Verb
-
Donna, dressed in purple jail attire, teared up as Graber, a Broward obstetrician/gynecologist and former state lawmaker, spoke.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Maass traced her rounds, dressed in crisp blue-and-white stripes, white muslin cap with a black ribbon, thermometer pushed through a buttonhole.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
On multiple plays against the Jets, Joseph disguised a standard four-man rush by dropping an edge rusher into coverage as Strnad came flying from the weak side.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
14 Oct. 2025
-
In Greece, the job of storm god passed to Zeus, though Perkwuhnos’ name persisted, half disguised, in Zeus’ thunderbolt, Keraunos.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Take inspiration from Magnolia Table’s Baked Oatmeal by adding a dash of maple syrup and some candied pecans to your usual breakfast for extra flavor.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These approvals would enable architects and developers to use SUPERWOOD as cladding on taller buildings.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Sep. 2025
-
That’s good, but cladding a phone whose raison d’etre is gorgeous, slim design seems less than ideal.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Adjective
-
This simple yet stylish monogrammed jewelry dish—personalized with her initial—is the perfect spot for her everyday jewelry or little tchotchkes.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Glamour,
13 Oct. 2025
-
In an age when celebrities rarely leave the house without the help of a stylist (and in an industry where everyone is fashionable, though few are truly stylish), Keaton’s approach was singular.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Clothes therefore became a clever signifier that could be displayed or concealed depending on the situation.—
Steve Salter,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The connections to the servers in the landing station a mile away had been installed, and a spaghetti of thick black cables lay concealed in the cube below the manhole.—
Samanth Subramanian,
The Dial,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This casserole, from our 1991 recipe collection, has a classic sweet potato filling, but it’s sweetened with apple butter for a richer, more concentrated flavor.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
-
It’s made with real coconut water powder, pink Himalayan salt, and fruit juice powders, sweetened with monk fruit and stevia.—
Olivia Tarantino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Air France, for its part, is undertaking a full-cabin makeover that adds business-class suites clad in sumptuous full-grain French leather.—
Chris Dong,
Robb Report,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Dani Vogt, a 55-year-old attorney, was among the dozens clad in taco costumes.—
Madeline Armstrong,
Oc Register,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dressed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressed%20up. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share