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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preen
Its hero, Lee Raybon, played by Ethan Hawke, is a The Dude–esque detective-journalist, its baddies (played by Kyle MacLachlan, Paul Sparks, and Tracy Letts) glower and preen, and Keith David’s uneasy sidekick swings between humor and gravitas.
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Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The outfits change, the hair changes, the choreography changes — but the primal urge to preen, prance, and get the f— out of our own heads is eternal.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Nov. 2025
Ace holds center stage, knees bent, slung low to the ground, brandishing his Gibson while Gene and Paul preen on either side of him.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
The markets react, the politicians preen, and most Americans go about their day trying to just get to the weekend around the corner.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preen
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The outfits change, the hair changes, the choreography changes — but the primal urge to preen, prance, and get the f— out of our own heads is eternal.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Nov. 2025
Ace holds center stage, knees bent, slung low to the ground, brandishing his Gibson while Gene and Paul preen on either side of him.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
The markets react, the politicians preen, and most Americans go about their day trying to just get to the weekend around the corner.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preen
Verb
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Junior 140-pounder Jackie Martinez, one of her teammates, described Garbacz as unselfish and giving and never one to gloat or fixate on herself.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
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In the book, Araminta visits Sophie in prison to gloat over her upcoming sentencing only to receive the shock of her life when Benedict and Violet appear and demand her release.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The tiniest requests were dispensed with the utmost care; rooms were primped and fluffed three times a day; special requests for excursions efficiently booked; and dietary preferences noted and recalled with precision.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
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Plus, check out the rest of her hair primping routine below.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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Jenner, like her sister Kim Kardashian, has often turned to Margiela for her most major moments, with an affinity for the house’s sensual, body-exulting designs.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
30 Jan. 2026
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And then there was CMAT, the Irish singer who has already become a European sensation, exulting in a sensational reception for her mainstage set at GJWW, which some attendees went online to cite as the most thrilling full-length performance of the weekend.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preen. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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