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

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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 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 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
  • Revord fielded questions from curious castmates and asked hair and makeup artists to help choose character outfits for their Pinterest board.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Borrelli-Persson As recently as the era of the supers, runway models did their own hair and makeup.
    Vogue Runway, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Once that happens, salt can deteriorate the paint on top and car parts underneath.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The gas is activated by the ultraviolet rays of the sun, making the tail glow in much the same way that black light causes phosphorescent paint to light up.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“War paint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/war%20paint. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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