smarten (up)

Definition of smarten (up)next

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarten (up)
Verb
  • Plus, check out the rest of her hair primping routine below.
    Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The stage is set, the judges are primped, and American Idol is ready to find the next music superstar.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Jan. 2026
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
  • Show after show delivered beautiful tailoring and thoughtful outerwear, pieces designed to live in rather than preen in.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
  • On Monday, Marshall went to the park and shared photos with a reporter of bottles, wrappers and other litter throughout the shoreline and in shallow areas where the birds gather and preen.
    Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • There’s nothing inherently wrong with spritzing a little LCD on the wrists, dabbing some Phoenix on the neck, and then getting dressed up in your usual Keane.
    Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 9 Mar. 2026
  • So sometimes, families who don't have sons will dress up one of their daughters and present them as a son to avoid social criticism.
    Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 9 Mar. 2026
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 13 Mar. 2026.

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