1
as in dressing
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 disguising
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 sprucing
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 clothing
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 dressing up
One of my favorite trends is getting your pets involved in dressing up.
—
Trisha Easto, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Don’t think for a minute that dressing up for Halloween is child’s play.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Take your pick of pop star styles (on and off stage), iconic TV and movie characters to viral, news-making moments—the options for dressing up on October 31st have never been more plentiful.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 18 Sep. 2025
After the cyberstalking ordeal came to an end and started making national news, the Wilsons poked fun at Kendra's fate by dressing up a scarecrow in a prison jumpsuit with a mask of her mugshot over its face, per The Cut.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Some of these garnishes are also dressing up orange wine, a trending summer beverage.
—Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2025
Cox, on the other hand, paired a classic denim jacket with satin trousers, which is a simple trick for instantly dressing up denim.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
People went to see it again and again, and started dressing up in costumes and acting out the lines in front of the big screen, a practice that became known as shadow casting.
—ArsTechnica, 16 Aug. 2025
Stars such as Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Mariah Carey have all taken turns dressing up in the iconic garb.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Trisha Easto, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Don’t think for a minute that dressing up for Halloween is child’s play.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Take your pick of pop star styles (on and off stage), iconic TV and movie characters to viral, news-making moments—the options for dressing up on October 31st have never been more plentiful.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 18 Sep. 2025
After the cyberstalking ordeal came to an end and started making national news, the Wilsons poked fun at Kendra's fate by dressing up a scarecrow in a prison jumpsuit with a mask of her mugshot over its face, per The Cut.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Some of these garnishes are also dressing up orange wine, a trending summer beverage.
—Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2025
Cox, on the other hand, paired a classic denim jacket with satin trousers, which is a simple trick for instantly dressing up denim.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
People went to see it again and again, and started dressing up in costumes and acting out the lines in front of the big screen, a practice that became known as shadow casting.
—ArsTechnica, 16 Aug. 2025
Stars such as Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Mariah Carey have all taken turns dressing up in the iconic garb.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressing up
Verb
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Known for her obsession with workwear and dressing stars like Coco Jones, Tate McRae, Lala Anthony, and Camila Cabello, Wade continues to redefine workwear, this season taking her exploration of corporate hierarchies from the boardroom to the warehouse floor.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
19 Sep. 2025
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The French couturier built close relationships with the superstars of his era, dressing them for the stage and screen — a legacy that continues under the house’s current creative director, Olivier Rousteing.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Both partners commit to naming insecurities directly rather than disguising them as tests.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Applying coconut or walnut oil can go a long way towards disguising white scratches.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As an alliance grew between senators and financial powers, public figures began profiting from real-estate speculation, slave trading, and overseas plunder—while masking their involvement.—
Zephyr Teachout,
The Atlantic,
22 Sep. 2025
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The film has Lorraine Warren, using her psychic visions, uncovering that the spirits in the house are masking the demonic presence — one that’s tied to the mirror at the beginning of the film that is also seen in the series’ first film.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cracker Barrel is sweetening the deal for loyalty members, who will be able to take part in the $5 deal starting a full day early on September 25.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
23 Sep. 2025
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The news led many to speculate that the move was a political one aimed at sweetening a then-pending merger between parent company Paramount and Skydance — a deal that the companies needed the FCC to approve.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Defense camouflaging more blemishes than Revlon.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
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For older water stains or for camouflaging other stains, Mock advises following a process that aims to blend the stain with the surrounding area, as lifting the stain entirely isn’t possible without discoloring the leather.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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After the trade, Jones talked about how improving the run defense was part of their decision-making.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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Ten years on from the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the vision of improving lives everywhere in harmony with our planet is under unprecedented strain.—
Sebastian Buckup,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Narcissistic kindness can take many forms, and some narcissists may be more skilled at concealing their real motives than others.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
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Elsewhere during the interview, Newsom discussed California’s new state law that bans members of ICE from concealing their identities while on duty and the importance of maintaining electoral integrity.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Now, the multi-billion-dollar brand is bringing its signature silhouette-enhancing styles into the world of performance and women’s sports.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
24 Sep. 2025
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For one thing, food packages nutrition with fats, enhancing absorption.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dressing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressing%20up. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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