war paint

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 war paint 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 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 Upon applying war paint-like ash to her face, Teonna fills a pillow case with a literal stack of bibles. Matt Cabral, EW.com, 9 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for war paint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for war paint
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the legendary makeup artist behind Gabrielle Union, Tyra Banks, and even Kamala Harris, Sam Fine demonstrated the secret to blush and bronzed beauty with Juvia’s Place.
    India Espy-Jones, Essence, 6 July 2025
  • But there are also storytellers, makeup artists, theater majors and ballerinas — Americans who probably never thought their skills would match the needs of a spy agency.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • Reportedly Among Teams Interested in Marlins Pitcher Not Named Sandy Alcantara NY Giants Standout Slighted in Recent Positional Rankings Users on Reddit were overwhelmingly supportive of the paint job, with many expressing admiration for the new look.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • The rest of the party seemingly echoed Hockney, 88, and his work as Charlie’s gathering was a pool party that also featured a paint station.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 9 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“War paint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/war%20paint. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!