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smarten (up)

verb

Definition of smarten (up)next
as in to primp

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarten (up)
  1. primp
  2. doll up
  3. preen
  4. dress up
Verb
  • Hair that has never looked more posh or perfectly primped—I’m officially hooked.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 28 July 2026
  • Troye Sivan arrives primped for the Prada dinner during Milan Fashion Week on June 21.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
Definition of primp
Verb
  • Hanging out was one thing, but the group also wanted to doll up the Potter franchise’s Ron Weasley.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026
  • And Millie Bobby Brown echoed a similar sentiment on her story, sharing Hottle's memorable shot holding a handmade King Kong doll up to the giant ape.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of doll up
Verb
  • Trump has already accepted a set of Olympic medals from LA 28 chair Casey Wasserman and will preen as a man of consequence for the world when the Games come to Los Angeles in two years.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Observe black cockatoos preen in the drooping she-oaks, or marvel at the Dali-esque outback, filled with its skeletal mallee trees.
    — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026
Definition of preen
Verb
  • But a lot of it is just noise dressed up as urgency, and chasing it constantly is its own kind of drift.
    — John Speranza, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The idea is apparently that 101 women will dress up like princesses and vie to be Mark’s girlfriend; once the situation becomes predictably awkward, Mark seemingly deems the night a bust and kicks everyone out.
    — Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of dress up
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.

Browse Nearby Words

smartens (up)
smarten (up)
smarties
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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 Sep. 2026.

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