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
  • Signs of this history were on display amid all the adventurous modern art that made Mandell’s home seem like an elegant, circus-like wonderland.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Her elegant primary bedroom boasted a dressing area that was the picture of ’40s-movie-star luxury, complete with plush rugs, dramatic arches, and, of course, plenty of mirrors.
    — Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of elegant
Verb
  • Those conducting the online scams are sometimes willing con artists, and other times trafficked foreign nationals -- many Chinese -- tricked themselves into work and held in prison-like compounds.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But a few times in recent years, Hollins, a veterinarian, tricked Jonathan and slid a cotton swab into the giant tortoise’s mouth to get a saliva sample.
    — Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of trick
Adjective
  • Here are the best, smartest and most revolutionary titles the genre created.
    — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Apple Turnovers Grandma always appreciated a smart shortcut, and these apple turnovers have that—frozen puff pastry makes the crust on these turnovers quick and easy.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of smart
Verb
  • The company is reviewing costs, operations, and portfolio of brands to improve performance.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But Hall and Woodford, in separate contributions, set about improving the Keynesian model to take into account how consumers and businesses actually make decisions about whether to invest and spend.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of improve
Adjective
  • This fully electric, ultra-compact quadricycle is designed for short urban trips—like zipping down to the shops in a golf cart, but more stylish—offering a simpler alternative to traditional cars.
    — Lauryn Higgins, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In 2025, The Jay hotel in San Francisco teamed up with The Namesake, transforming a section of The Jay’s stylish Third Floor into an exclusive design studio.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of stylish
Verb
  • This was placed in a room where three Juszkiewicz works hinged on flourishing gladioli and calla, next to Valentino’s gowns that expressed his couture skills with sequined and embroidered dresses embellished with floral references and leaf motifs.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • This denim is highly ornamented, coated, dyed, or otherwise creatively embellished.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of embellish
Adjective
  • Ortega and Ora weren’t the only fashionable famous faces on the red carpet.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The fashionable young man introduced himself as Nicholas Yakovlev, a friend of Adrien’s.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on spruce

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spruce

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