smarten (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarten (up)
Verb
  • Handlers at the 2024 National Dog Show Presented by Purina spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about getting different breeds ready for the big event and the amount of primping required.
    Marina Watts, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024
  • Photographed by Clémence Polès The next couple of hours felt like a rom-com montage—a bunch of girls playing, primping, and posing for pictures.
    Jessie Heyman, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Toddler girl wearing striped shorts and vest set propping her baby doll up against a wall to take a photo.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
  • Wearing a look inspired by Barbie herself, Margot Robbie dolls up at this year's Gotham Awards on Nov. 27 in N.Y.C. 43 of 80 Night to Remember Bradley Cooper waves to onlookers outside of the 2023 Gotham Awards in New York City on Nov. 27.
    Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2023
Verb
  • 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
  • Much like his previous turn in Purple Noon, as Jean-Paul Delon embodies the preening narcissist whose barely concealed vulnerability and jealousy lead him to murder a rival.
    Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Plus, these are the perfect base pants for virtually any outfit and can be dressed up or down for everything from a run to a shopping spree.
    Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Staffers brought in furniture and knick-knacks to dress up the makeshift studio, Quintero said.
    Mary Jo Pitzl, AZCentral.com, 13 July 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Smarten (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarten%20%28up%29. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

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