as in cosmopolitan
a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers
sophisticates laughing at people they thought of as hicks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to complex
to make complex or difficult
there's no need to sophisticate something that is beautiful in its simplicity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to dilute
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
vanilla extract that has been sophisticated with corn syrup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sophisticate
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
For Foster’s second win, she was remade as a bona fide A-lister: a sleek Hollywood sophisticate with nothing to prove.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026
He could be sophisticated without losing emotion, and bold without losing beauty.
—Marianne Love, Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sophisticate
Noun
Few things jar the delicate pretensions of the cocktail sophisticate so much as a drink with a chicken on top.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
For Foster’s second win, she was remade as a bona fide A-lister: a sleek Hollywood sophisticate with nothing to prove.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
Flavors Defining the Savory Girl Era The savory girl is sophisticated, with a mature palate that appreciates complex flavors.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026
He could be sophisticated without losing emotion, and bold without losing beauty.
—Marianne Love, Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sophisticate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sophisticate
Noun
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If top-level soccer is now played by something like rootless cosmopolitans, it’s financed by billionaires who are no longer primarily European.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
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The adjective cosmopolitan only begins to describe Sajet, who has had important life experiences on four continents.—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Artificial intelligence companies recently threatened to shun Illinois and build their most advanced data centers in Wisconsin and Indiana if the state doesn’t dilute its privacy law, the toughest in the country.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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The plans allow existing stockholders to buy shares at a steep discount, which dilutes the value and voting power of new share purchases.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their departures illustrate just how complicated the entire roster equation is, and perhaps how availability could outweigh the desire for name-power in future configurations.—
Johnny Flores Jr,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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That calculus is complicated by the festival’s famously dense schedule.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
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With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Back in 2024, Hill made the most sense to face Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded in Game 1 of the World Series.—
Johnny Flores Jr,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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According to a Treasury Department license document, the authorization applies until April 11 and applies to Russian oil that was loaded onto vessels before March 12.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The false death of Nicholas Bell (David Morse) — which evolved from a heart attack and Bailey’s grandfather being poisoned — brought malicious forces out of the woodwork.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2026
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Chronic mold poisoning our children.—
Sumathy Kumar,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Pruning saws are great for thinning Japanese maple or crepe myrtle branches that might be rubbing on each other, shooting in the wrong direction, or obstructing a walkway.—
Campbell Vaughn,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
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Heavy oils that work well for curlier textures can flatten waves and make thinning more noticeable.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even as Michigan State came roaring back in the second half, cutting the lead to just two in the final minute, UCLA never flinched.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
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Orangefield cut the lead to 8 points a couple of times late in the game, but Cobb made 5 of 6 free throws in the final 46 seconds to keep the Bobcats at bay.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sophisticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophisticate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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