1
1
as in bandaging
to cover with a bandage
first wash and then dress the wound
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decorating
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming
let's dress up the room with some greenery for the holiday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in polishing
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
dress the granite block to be used as the headstone on all four sides
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in clothing
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes
dressed the young girl in satin and lace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in costuming
to put on one's best or formal clothes
we don't usually dress for dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in growing
to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care
dress the beans by applying fertilizer once a week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dressing
Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 29 May 2026
White listeners and white supremacy are always ripe for a dressing down, but there’s no teeth or edge to his provocations anymore.
—Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 29 May 2026
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
For a younger child, that might mean offering two clothing choices instead of dressing them yourself.
—Parents, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dressing
Noun
It is expected that Mourinho will try to tighten control over leaks concerning internal dressing-room matters, something that has irritated the club this season — and which Alonso sought to tackle.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 29 May 2026
White listeners and white supremacy are always ripe for a dressing down, but there’s no teeth or edge to his provocations anymore.
—Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 29 May 2026
Verb
If one were looking for a sports league that most faithfully reflects the modern United States — its stratification, its rituals of self-justification, its remarkable talent for dressing inequality in the language of tradition — Major League Baseball would be hard to beat.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
For a younger child, that might mean offering two clothing choices instead of dressing them yourself.
—Parents, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dressing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressing
Noun
-
The plaster, cave-like living room (complete with a cozy fireplace) served as a backdrop for trivia night; the ice-cold creek, which snakes along the five-acre property, was our personal swimming spot to chase off the heat of the day.—
Aemilia Madden,
Vogue,
27 May 2026
-
Architectural flex continues in the form of a sculptural staircase that connects the two levels, and which comes crafted with tailored plaster walls and handrails, punctuated with bronze skirting details.—
Ming Liu,
Robb Report,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
Stand-out main courses include the New York strip steak served with a textural Spanish potato tortilla, and the sea trout bathed in a light cream sauce.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
-
Outside of smothered biscuit sandwiches, District Biskuits also sells mac and cheese, chicken tenders with various dipping sauces, waffle fries and other sides.—
Katelyn Umholtz,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
In theory, these shocks are supposed to fade, and the greater good is served by merely bandaging the complaints of lower-income groups until the headline metrics herald an apparent return to normalcy.—
Gene Ludwig,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
-
After bandaging the bleeding leg Saturday, Bichette woke up sore Sunday, Schneider said.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Setting the business up, decorating, shopping and all the other preparations for the opening assist in moving the plot towards its conclusion.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
This is a lovely window for nesting, gathering loved ones, and even making moves around your living situation, whether that means decorating, purchasing, or settling somewhere new.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Another highlight of my visit was experiencing Bastien's Manicure, an in-spa collaboration with nail-care specialists Bastien Gonzalez, which pairs meticulous cuticle work and a thorough massage with a natural nail-polishing technique that eliminates the need for nail polish entirely.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
-
There’s the difficulty of sintering and polishing the ceramic, and then there’s maintaining the purity of the look.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
This is like inviting a homeless person into your home, sheltering them, feeding them, clothing them, educating them, and having that person's confidant leak that the newly comfortable person doesn't think less of you.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The monochrome version turns shadows into muddy soup, while the color version seems chiefly designed to emphasize the high-pop color costuming that recalls the 1990 Warren Beatty Dick Tracy adaptation.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
-
The pas de deux between Billy and Kris is entrancingly sexy, and the film’s love relationship to movie magic is just as romantic, from Anderson’s grand-dame costuming to the matte paintings that serve as backdrops in both the film-within-the-film and the one containing it.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The free-speech cases in Florida, Tennessee and Indiana highlight a growing debate surrounding the First Amendment, political discourse and social media.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
According to the statement, Xcel has identified resource adequacy as a growing concern for several years and has proposed multiple solutions, including a near-term procurement plan designed to add 3,800 megawatts of new generation capacity.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressing. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
