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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preen
Adding a meta layer, when Brazilians see their compatriots act out this complex, preening for attention, this triggers even more chagrin about being Brazilian.
—
Shannon Sims, New Yorker, 30 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for preen
Shannon Sims, New Yorker, 30 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for preen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preen
Verb
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Trump gloated over ABC's decision to suspend Kimmel and when he was eventually reinstated, slammed the network for bringing back his show.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
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None sought headlines or fame or gloated in press coverage.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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The gladiators are primped by stylists and costume designers before the blood flows.—
Bob Minzesheimer,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 2025
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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The duo exulted in success and strove to support a young family in a fickle industry.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
5 Oct. 2025
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Where Godard and his collaborators exulted in their freedom, Linklater was intent on painstaking accuracy.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preen. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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