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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Attendees marked the historic occasion dressed in traditional barongs — formalwear finely woven from piña, or pineapple fibers — as well as elegant Filipiniana outfits and ternos, the traditional formal gowns instantly recognizable by their structured butterfly sleeves.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
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Stay at Lucknam Park, an elegant country retreat near Bath.—
Lindsay Cohn,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Posts from other Knicks fans say the user tried tricking them as well.—
Tim McNicholas,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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These websites closely resemble legitimate ticketing and checkout platforms and can allow scammers to steal log-in credentials, personal information and credit card numbers and trick you into sending in payments.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Travel costs keep climbing in 2026, and a wellness retreat at home is becoming the smarter way to reset without spending thousands on flights and resort stays.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2026
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There’s also a smart key system with proximity detection, automatic steering wheel unlocking, and seat opening.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 13,
New Atlas,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The Knicks improved to 4-0 in closeout opportunities this season, winning them all on the road.—
Tim Reynolds,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
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Parents and beauty enthusiasts alike praise its ability to smooth stubborn bumps and improve skin texture.—
Cheryl Fenton,
Parents,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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All the restaurants were bustling during my April stay with a mix of stylish locals and visitors, many from China’s megacities.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
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In addition to slip-on clogs and sandals, Birkenstock also produces stylish and supportive sneakers like the Bend Low sneakers, which boast cork and polyurethane (PU) midsoles that deliver top-tier shock absorption.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
Verb
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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,
14 June 2026
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It was elaborately embellished, heavy — an actual work of art.—
Allison Johnson,
The Verge,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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Chanel hosted a fashionable crowd Monday night in New York for its 19th annual Tribeca Festival artists dinner with plenty of reasons to raise a glass.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2026
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This lightweight hat will protect you from UV rays while making a chic, fashionable statement.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Looking to doll up your collarbones instead?—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
7 Oct. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Spruce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spruce. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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