as in elegant
being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance
a slim, spruce man in a tailor-made business suit
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spruce
Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Very few of today’s displays predate the 1990s, with some being renovated over the years to either spruce them up or change their theme.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
The 34-mile road winds through several ecosystems from cove hardwood to northern hardwood to pine oak to spruce fir.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025
Available in various colors, from black to blush pink patent leather, the closed toe pumps offer an adjustable buckle slingback strap and fun geometric side cut-outs that spruce your outfit up.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spruce
Verb
Gallagher spent the first week of December sprucing it up, artfully decorating Christmas trees and doing her best to spread holiday cheer to the house's 150 families.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Very few of today’s displays predate the 1990s, with some being renovated over the years to either spruce them up or change their theme.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
The 34-mile road winds through several ecosystems from cove hardwood to northern hardwood to pine oak to spruce fir.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025
Available in various colors, from black to blush pink patent leather, the closed toe pumps offer an adjustable buckle slingback strap and fun geometric side cut-outs that spruce your outfit up.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spruce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spruce
Adjective
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Michter’s has spent years proving that rye can also be elegant, balanced, and surprisingly approachable, and its latest 10 Year Rye release continues that mission.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
In Palm Beach, Florida, Jelly Roll performs at his Little ASS Shed Tour, while in Los Angeles, Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner look elegant as ever in black and white outfits.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
Verb
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While Matthew and Mu-won started Gojeuneok Bio together, Chang-ho has launched a cosmetics company that makes its money by tricking smaller companies into giving away the secrets behind their products.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
29 May 2026
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Scammers have found ways to steal codes, trick people into sharing them or take control of a phone number through a SIM swap scam.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lane pointed to Adams State’s direct admissions program as a smart intervention that attracts students who might have otherwise overlooked college.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
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The next generation of commerce may not belong solely to the smartest AI models, but to the companies who are most capable of balancing complexity on the business side, while delivering trust and simplicity on the consumer side.—
Jacques Ledbetter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
And access to health care and drinking water should be improved.—
Tommy Trenchard,
NPR,
31 May 2026
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Lewis was unapologetic about his efforts to use the courts as a vehicle for improving the lives of ordinary Floridians, and especially those who struggled.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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Round it out with a stylish Béis belt bag to keep airport essentials close at hand, leaving you no excuse to hold up security, knowing the coveted carry is just under $30.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
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Zaya Wade is one stylish teenager!—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The show was named after one of these ships, The Terror (the second was The Erebus) and it’s all based on a true story, though wildly embellished both out of necessity and for entertainment purposes.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
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Earlier in the spring, the footwear label tapped into the hybrid ballerina market with a style featuring a more open concept upper than usual which was embellished with three dainty straps.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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To truly put your most fashionable foot forward, spring for the splurge-worthy Rag & Bone Emilee Ballet Sneakers—the on-trend sneakerinas are now over $100 off.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
2 June 2026
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This is an island that attracts a fashionable globetrotting crowd, and loyal St Regis fans—arguably one in the same.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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The playful, cheaply made video showed Riley, in a natty royal-blue suit, being electrocuted by G-men, then breaking away on a wobbly pink bicycle.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Not all of them are worthy (at least, not at first), including natty twists on both Charlotte Lucas (Anna Fenton-Garvey) and Caroline Bingley (Tanya Reynolds, turning in a wholly wonderful performance).—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spruce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spruce. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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