1
as in decked (out)
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Dissimilar Words
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
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 clothed
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dressed up
Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
If someone is dressed up in a space that is dressed down, for instance, there’s humor to it.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
The Miami players, dressed up in dark suits with the club crest, entered the East Room first.
—Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Some dressed up in costumes such as The Lorax or a leprechaun.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 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
Paired with white jeans (a trend recently worn by Bella Hadid and Elle Fanning), it can be dressed up with heels and a chic bag or down with flats and casual accessories.
—Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 22 Feb. 2026
The study also noted that many of these companies guaranteed some news outlets would cover the press releases, and were essentially flooding the space with garbage crypto information dressed up to look like reliable news.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
This off-the-shoulder dress is a solid in-between option, since it can be dressed up with wedges or dressed down with flat sandals.
—Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
If someone is dressed up in a space that is dressed down, for instance, there’s humor to it.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
The Miami players, dressed up in dark suits with the club crest, entered the East Room first.
—Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Some dressed up in costumes such as The Lorax or a leprechaun.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 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
Paired with white jeans (a trend recently worn by Bella Hadid and Elle Fanning), it can be dressed up with heels and a chic bag or down with flats and casual accessories.
—Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 22 Feb. 2026
The study also noted that many of these companies guaranteed some news outlets would cover the press releases, and were essentially flooding the space with garbage crypto information dressed up to look like reliable news.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressed up
Adjective
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The grand tourer’s sleek shape is thankfully unchanged up until the beltline, meaning that the convertible still looks commanding and stylish in equal measure.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
13 Mar. 2026
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Choose between a slouchy suede Madewell tote or a stylish Coach shoulder bag.—
Jordan Julian,
InStyle,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Menu highlights include a yellowtail tiradito appetizer dressed in aji amarillo and finished with red onion relish, nori oil and a yucca chip; a bluefin tuna roll with Honeycrisp apple, shiso, shallots, horseradish and aged tamari; and creatively adorned nigiri pieces.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
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Every luncheon, potluck, and brunch spread could use a simple, delicious fruit salad, like this lightly dressed one.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That day, his Tahoe had been disguised with both an Uber decal and an out-of-state license plate.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
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What follows this admission is a piercing dissection not of the art itself, but of frameworks of looking at Black art and life that go beyond racist tropes disguised as appeals to the primitive, the spontaneous, the corporeal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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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Vise says she was fully clothed.—
Audrey Abrahams,
NBC news,
8 Mar. 2026
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Regardless of the exterior hue, the interior comes clad in Tartufo full Merino leather trimmed in Alpina Walnut Nature Black and black floor mats.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Timotheé Chalamet has picked up a habit for borrowing Kylie Jenner’s mini Kelly, and A$AP Rocky is very much in his Chanel bag era like Styles, while also being spotted toting gargantuan Louis Vuitton bags (Rihanna’s influence) and chic Celine luggage.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
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The May December actress isn’t the only one styling her gym shoes for everyday wear—lately, Dakota Johnson, Kendall Jenner, and more celebrities are turning to sporty-chic running sneakers for all-day comfort.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their investigation used digital maps, citizen archives, and new forensic technologies to reconstruct what has been concealed and kept behind a curtain of silence.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
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Authorities said the tank had been deliberately concealed, and an autopsy determined Dee Warner's death was a homicide caused by strangulation and blunt force trauma.—
Corey J. Murray,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Texans who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will no longer be able to use their benefits to buy candy or sweetened drinks, according to a news release from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.—
Maria Salette Ontiveros,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
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Specialty coffee drinks from Starbucks and Dunkin' are often sweetened, but the sugar content varies widely.—
Jenna Anderson,
Health,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dressed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressed%20up. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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