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
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
Military news stories throughout the Iraq war paint a similarly sanguine picture.
—Andrew Shaver, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2015
See All Example Sentences for war paint
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
Military news stories throughout the Iraq war paint a similarly sanguine picture.
—Andrew Shaver, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2015
See All Example Sentences for war paint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for war paint
Noun
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Upgrade to brushes that deliver a flawless, streak-free makeup application.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
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A question of justices Ultimately, the makeup of the Supreme Court could matter more than the legal arguments themselves, said longtime environmental attorney and Harvard Law School professor Richard Lazarus.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Vikings dominated the paint to start the second quarter, scoring off of three consecutive layups before Sophia Sarkar landed two 3-pointers.—
Tony Gleason,
Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
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Lead, a heavy metal once common in products like pipes and paints, is a neurotoxin that can stunt children’s development, lower IQ scores and increase blood pressure in adults.—
Michael Phillis,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“War paint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/war%20paint. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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