preen

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 preen With Bill Murray killing as a preening champion, this coarse, dumb, hilarious film is primo Farrelly brothers during their golden age that, unfairly, got slept on at the time. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 25 July 2025 In Wednesday’s first training camp practice, Alexander broke up two passes and made one known by breaking out his trademark seatbelt celebration and preening to the crowd. Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 25 July 2025 Which is why, having failed to stop the coming spending cuts with preening puffery and shameless dishonesty, defenders of taxpayer dollars for public media have pulled out the last tool out of their political toolbox. Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 18 July 2025 Hard to compare anything to a president of the most powerful country in the world preening about getting a $400 million jet from a little country on the other side of the world. Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for preen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preen
Verb
  • None sought headlines or fame or gloated in press coverage.
    Big Think, Big Think, 2 Oct. 2025
  • There was inevitable goading of some players, gloating after two days when a historic lead had been opened up, and eventual victory.
    Kevin Coulson, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Hundreds of them were on hand this week to primp and pamper more than 2,500 cows competing at what is widely considered to be the Westminster Dog Show of the cattle world.
    Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The gladiators are primped by stylists and costume designers before the blood flows.
    Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Messi, at 35, led his country to glory against France, winning soccer’s ultimate prize in a pulsating match that finished 3-3 after extra time and had to be settled by a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
    Patrick Smith, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2022
  • If Harris can bring together a family with Indian, African, and Jewish heritage, America can glory in its diversity.
    Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 26 Aug. 2020
Verb
  • Where Godard and his collaborators exulted in their freedom, Linklater was intent on painstaking accuracy.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Wooldridge’s message mentioned Paul the Apostle’s exulting in the principles of faith, hope and love.
    Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 14 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Preen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preen. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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