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
Three Los Angeles County residents will spend their weekends in jail for dressing up as a bear and trashing luxury cars for insurance money.
—
Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Back in 2022, the mom of three shared a sweet image of the pair dressing up as zombies for Halloween by wearing scary makeup.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
It is also known for its elaborate costumes, with many attendees dressing up as their favorite characters.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
Rather than dressing up as a Disney character, incorporate polka dots, fun prints like leopard, and red-and-black motifs throughout your vacation wardrobe.
—Irene Richardson, InStyle, 6 Mar. 2026
The facile novelty of adultery is its own mask, a sexy way of dressing up a deep, frightened longing for security.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
The fall collection adds another brick, as Falcioni seeks to reignite the pleasure of toying with tailoring and dressing up.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
Andrew and King Charles embraced the cowboy lifestyle, dressing up in cowboy hats and bolo ties while watching the Calgary Stampede during a visit to Canada in 1977.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
These joggers are so cool right now, even for dressing up with a chic peacoat or blazer.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2026
Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Back in 2022, the mom of three shared a sweet image of the pair dressing up as zombies for Halloween by wearing scary makeup.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
It is also known for its elaborate costumes, with many attendees dressing up as their favorite characters.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
Rather than dressing up as a Disney character, incorporate polka dots, fun prints like leopard, and red-and-black motifs throughout your vacation wardrobe.
—Irene Richardson, InStyle, 6 Mar. 2026
The facile novelty of adultery is its own mask, a sexy way of dressing up a deep, frightened longing for security.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
The fall collection adds another brick, as Falcioni seeks to reignite the pleasure of toying with tailoring and dressing up.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
Andrew and King Charles embraced the cowboy lifestyle, dressing up in cowboy hats and bolo ties while watching the Calgary Stampede during a visit to Canada in 1977.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
These joggers are so cool right now, even for dressing up with a chic peacoat or blazer.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressing up
Verb
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However, when applied as a top dressing to existing peony beds, compost is usually not enough to fix any phosphorus or potassium deficiencies.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Apr. 2026
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Queen Mary wore another dark blue outfit to the confirmation of her twin children on Saturday, dressing to respect her father's recent death but skipping the traditional black dress associated with mourning.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On his last day before he’s scheduled to ride off on his motorcycle for a three-month sabbatical that’s only barely disguising his suicidal ideation, Robby spends his final shift lashing out at his co-workers.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
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Many of Joseph’s current defensive principles — disguising blitzers indistinguishably from players dropping back into coverage — are similar to what Cincinnati did a decade ago, under defensive coordinator Guenther.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The new approach could change that, targeting the disease process directly instead of masking its effects.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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This hurdle becomes exceptionally steep for adults who have perfected masking their symptoms.—
Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Coffee giant Starbucks is looking to encourage its baristas and hourly workers to improve their sales and customer service by sweetening the pot with bigger financial perks.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
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Last year, Pritzker signed an onerous bill sweetening firefighter and police pensions that will cost Chicagoans tens of millions of dollars more annually without extra help from the state.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There is even a small cabinet positioned right above the washing machine, which keeps laundry detergent accessible while camouflaging the plastic bottle.—
Lindsey Mather,
Architectural Digest,
7 Apr. 2026
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Woodbury’s world is full of misdirection, with sincerity masquerading as irony and the real camouflaging itself in the artificial.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The demonstration of fast-improving robotic speed and autonomy comes as China’s tech industry is rapidly scaling up mass production of humanoid robots to explore possible uses in the real world.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
20 Apr. 2026
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There is little evidence that gelatin supplements are useful for managing diarrhea, improving joint pain, or improving bone health.—
Amber J. Tresca,
Verywell Health,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Misprision of felony involves someone knowing a felony was committed, and concealing it and failing to report it to authorities as soon as possible.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Just days before the child’s death, Supervisor Arenas had castigated agency officials for concealing a November status report from the state that listed unresolved concerns.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The move is also in line with a number of states that have been adding or enhancing production incentives to grow local economies and provide alternatives Stateside to hubs like Los Angeles, which continues to contend with runaway production.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
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The best Korean skin care routine for mature skin is all about enhancing skin elasticity and targeting visible signs of aging.—
Sarah Y. Wu,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dressing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressing%20up. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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