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spruce 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of sprucenext
as in elegant
being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance a slim, spruce man in a tailor-made business suit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spruce

2 of 2

verb

as in to trick

Related Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of spruce
Verb
According to Bauhus’s research, climate change has rendered the Black Forest largely uninhabitable to spruce. — Kendra Atleework, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2026 Fortunately, the wise old Professor Tangrowth is there to help spruce it up. — ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026 Something always needs stabilizing, fixing or sprucing in a 174-year-old building. — Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Feb. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for spruce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spruce
  1. elegant
  2. trick
  3. smart
  4. improve
  5. stylish
  6. embellish
  7. fashionable
  8. doll up
Adjective
  • The menu is helmed by Tyler Heckman, a Connecticut native who cut his teeth in New York, and is elegant and thoughtfully sourced but approachable.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Related Articles All over the bodice, but most certainly the skirt of the dress, flouncy, delicate feathers were featured in abundance, giving the overall design a distinctly textural and playful feel that was still refined and elegant.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of elegant
Verb
  • The North Koreans will then trick victims to install the malware under the guise of completing a computer coding test or troubleshooting an error in an online video call.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Light pollution from various sources in our bedroom can trick the brain into producing less melatonin, which can negatively impact sleep quality.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of trick
Adjective
  • If the issues being talked about weren’t so serious, declaring that machines are now smarter than humans, given this glaring gap between AI agents and their principals, would be a fun keynote for the next AI summit.
    — Bhaskar Chakravorti, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Like a ‘90s Domino’s delivery Haat combined the convenience of shopping and dining through a smart phone application with an old-school pay-by-cash option.
    — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of smart
Verb
  • The company says this could improve system visibility while reducing downtime, warranty exposure, and costs associated with maintenance and battery augmentation.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
  • State agencies want to improve access to early childhood settings for children with disabilities and developmental delays.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of improve
Adjective
  • The backstory Opened in 2016 as Atton Brickell, the property was acquired and rebranded by French hospitality giant Accor under its stylish Novotel umbrella.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Johnson was spotted leaving a Variety Press Junket on Thursday wearing a stylish ensemble with a pair of trendy ballet flats with a high vamp design.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of stylish
Verb
  • Falling over the shoulders of Princess Charlene, the neckline was completely embellished with beadwork in the same shade of black for a monochrome finish.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Along either side of the split, the gown was embellished with the same silver grommets, reminiscent of a corset, and laced together with a single, thin string.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of embellish
Adjective
  • At the fashionable Masel Tov restaurant, a poem by the Jewish wartime hero Hannah Szenes marks a fragment of wall, part of a ghetto where 70,000 Jewish people lived for several weeks between December 1944 and January 1945.
    — Lucy Handley, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Noel also praises Liam’s fashionable cool (Stone Island parka, big sunglasses, tambourine as a fascinator) and how much his frontman persona resonated with fans worldwide.
    — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fashionable
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

Phrases Containing spruce

Browse Nearby Words

sprouts
spruce
spruced
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Cite this Entry

“Spruce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spruce. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on spruce

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spruce

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