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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dressed up
Annie Blackman, InStyle, 13 Mar. 2026
Zac has gotten dressed up and feels like a newlywed, but Jen barely notices.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
The button-down design works perfectly with jeans and sneakers for weekend antiquing at the Saint-Ouen flea market, or it can be dressed up with a mini skirt and tall boots for dinner out with friends.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 12 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
Verb
This two-piece outfit delivers instant coziness, but it can also be dressed up with a few thoughtful pairings; add ballet flats and a jean jacket to run errands in style.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 13 Mar. 2026
Zac has gotten dressed up and feels like a newlywed, but Jen barely notices.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
The button-down design works perfectly with jeans and sneakers for weekend antiquing at the Saint-Ouen flea market, or it can be dressed up with a mini skirt and tall boots for dinner out with friends.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 12 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressed up
Adjective
-
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
-
Choose between a slouchy suede Madewell tote or a stylish Coach shoulder bag.—
Jordan Julian,
InStyle,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Edwards dressed in street clothes and watched from the sidelines for the sixth straight game.—
Lia Assimakopoulos,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
And photos and videos after the storm showed undernourished Cubans, men, women and children dressed in rags and people barely managing in makeshift homes.—
David Goodhue
March 16,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Sweet potato casseroles have remained a constant on Thanksgiving sideboards in the South, but candied yams have fallen to the wayside for many.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
-
There were two, a candied-kumquat ice cream ($6) and a chocolate pavê with Chantilly cream and almond praline ($15).—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Buckley, clad in an elegant red and pink strapless gown, accepted the accolade with a rousing speech, thanking her husband and the team behind the film, and gushing over the emotional complexity of motherhood.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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Junior exuded an aura of rebellious elegance — clad in black with an Amiri bomber jacket, sunglasses and a long silver chain attached to his pants, and sipping on a red cup.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Most people are here for an easy getaway in the area—creative types on low-key weekend escapes from Los Angeles and couples who want something chic but unfussy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Below, discover 20 of the chicest styles—each with both street style and runway seal of approval.—
Laura Jackson,
Vogue,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Beyond that, the county has concealed most legal bills from the process — fees paid to outside lawyers and investigators who built the case against Corpus and looked into her counter-accusations — citing attorney-client privilege.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
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The pair began to exchange words early in the second half, cracking the type of crooked smiles that hardly concealed the competitiveness driving both players to chirp and ridicule and needle one another on both ends of the court.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Writers Guild of America West has sweetened its offer to the 110-member staff union that has been on strike since mid-February.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
-
An integral part of life for locals here, chocolate is served cold or hot, whisked with water (not milk), and sometimes sweetened with sugar or cinnamon.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dressed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressed%20up. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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