as in to trim
to make neat
hurriedly sprucing up the hotel dining room before the breakfast crowd began showing up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spruce (up)
Verb
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Though the index rebounded shortly after, its gains were trimmed in early 2025 as U.S. President Donald Trump ignited his trade war.—
Zinnia Lee,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025 -
Asparagus could be cut, trucked to the plant, trimmed, washed, blanched, packaged, and quick-frozen to -40 degrees Fahrenheit in less than two hours; one was the goal.—
John Seabrook
June 11,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
Verb
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In 2023, Malaysian Roblox players organized a pro-Palestinian protest in the midst of escalating violence in the Middle East.—
Alyssa Mercante,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2025
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Speaking to me over Zoom, Boyle explains how this smartphone array, organized in a half-circle, lets the director capture complex action scenes from multiple angles at once.—
Jake Kleinman,
Wired News,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter has rushed to arrange a commission vote, ratifying it.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2025
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Attentive staffers will be on hand for towel drops and spritz refills, as well as to help arrange water sports or beach games.—
Cameron Sperance,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Spruce (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spruce%20%28up%29. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
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