as in makeup
preparations intended to beautify the face
when I was young, I loved to watch Mom put on her war paint before a fancy evening out
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Recent Examples of war paint
Their textured human faces, complete with war paint and a five-o’-clock shadow, were mercilessly rendered into a few similarly shaded squares.
—
Yussef Cole, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
On stage, drag artist Aphrodite Banks is a femme fatale: Caked in war paint, with a waterfall of braids whipping around her waist, she’s possessed of the white-hot glare and forthright confidence to match her Amazonian height and bearing.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Feb. 2023
This is my war paint.
—Kelly Boutsalis, refinery29.com, 22 June 2021
My father used to call it war paint.
—Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for war paint
Yussef Cole, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
On stage, drag artist Aphrodite Banks is a femme fatale: Caked in war paint, with a waterfall of braids whipping around her waist, she’s possessed of the white-hot glare and forthright confidence to match her Amazonian height and bearing.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Feb. 2023
This is my war paint.
—Kelly Boutsalis, refinery29.com, 22 June 2021
My father used to call it war paint.
—Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for war paint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for war paint
Noun
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At public appearances, Trump is often seen wearing makeup to conceal bruising on his hands, which the White House attributes to handshaking and regular aspirin use.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
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At public appearances, Trump often is seen wearing makeup to conceal bruising on his hands, which the White House attributes to handshaking and regular aspirin use.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Noun
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Reeve said Kayla McBride led the defensive stand that limited Chicago’s chances in the paint.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
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Following an on-site inspection in November 2020, the South Coast AQMD cited GKN Aerospace in 2021 for failing to maintain required emission records for volatile organic compounds, which are gases emitted from paints, coatings and solvents.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“War paint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/war%20paint. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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