smarten (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarten (up)
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
  • Looking to doll up your collarbones instead?
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The store had to be closed for several days while volunteers set the dolls up for display, and only 25 shoppers could be allowed in at a time for viewing because of the dolls’ values.
    Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • 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 two birds often perch very close together, preening each other’s feathers — a behavior called allopreening — which probably helps strengthen their bond.
    Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Kids are encouraged to dress up, and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park also stays open late.
    Jenny Adams, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
  • In this song, Cece, Cody, and JJ dress up in adorable skeleton costumes and dance around the house like mischievous little Halloween spirits.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 10 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2025.

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