1
as in dressing
to put on one's best or formal clothes
we always like to dress up when going to parties
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in disguising
to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity
the war was a fiasco that the administration tried to dress up as a triumph
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sprucing
to make more desirable
dressed up the house with new windows and a paint job before putting it on the market
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in clothing
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes
the girls were dressed up in skirts or dresses, but the boys were wearing jeans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dressing up
Unlike past attempts at fictionalizing his life, Macmanus barely touches on the fact that Gacy had a hobby of dressing up like a clown, and doesn’t show any actual murders in the series.
—
Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
But what about the amateur adventurer who also enjoys dusting off and dressing up after a long day on the trail?
—AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025
Speaking of dressing up, the bag drips with style and will elevate any outfit in your wardrobe.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Many fans suggested the gift was a subtle jab at Nicole, who previously pretty much admitted to dressing up as Teyana Taylor for Halloween following her split from Iman Shumpert.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 16 Oct. 2025
People saw it not once, not twice, but over and over, frequently dressing up as the characters and hurling things — toast, rice, puns, obscenities — at the screen.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025
But dressing up can be a year-round affair, like when moms and dads are looking for party costumes or cultural outfits for their kids.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
This year, Spirit Halloween has options for dressing up like the unlikely besties, with costumes from both their Shiz days and post-graduation lives.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Ha-Ha-Halloween Song If your toddler is still a tad freaked out by all the skeletons and ghosts appearing around their neighborhood in the form of creepy decorations, and the prospect of dressing up just doesn’t sound appealing, CoComelon can help.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 3 Oct. 2025
Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
But what about the amateur adventurer who also enjoys dusting off and dressing up after a long day on the trail?
—AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025
Speaking of dressing up, the bag drips with style and will elevate any outfit in your wardrobe.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Many fans suggested the gift was a subtle jab at Nicole, who previously pretty much admitted to dressing up as Teyana Taylor for Halloween following her split from Iman Shumpert.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 16 Oct. 2025
People saw it not once, not twice, but over and over, frequently dressing up as the characters and hurling things — toast, rice, puns, obscenities — at the screen.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025
But dressing up can be a year-round affair, like when moms and dads are looking for party costumes or cultural outfits for their kids.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
This year, Spirit Halloween has options for dressing up like the unlikely besties, with costumes from both their Shiz days and post-graduation lives.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Ha-Ha-Halloween Song If your toddler is still a tad freaked out by all the skeletons and ghosts appearing around their neighborhood in the form of creepy decorations, and the prospect of dressing up just doesn’t sound appealing, CoComelon can help.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressing up
Verb
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For another easy Halloween get-up, consider dressing as Saoirse Ronan's titular character in Lady Bird.—
Emma Kershaw,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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Without spoiling the climax, A Tale of Two Sisters uses the haunted house motif almost as a window dressing to obscure the psychological aspects at play in this immensely enthralling, supernatural flick.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As a result, many civil servants are wary of serving baijiu at government functions; others are skirting the rule by disguising the clear liquor as water.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
26 Oct. 2025
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As scammers get better at disguising their traps, our best defense is slowing down, thinking twice, and remembering that no real voicemail requires you to log in through a random link in your inbox.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Any weeds or other plants that are killed by the frost will also be brown and lying on the ground, masking the location of your potatoes.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Oct. 2025
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His video interspersed images of him walking the city with footage of immigration officials arresting people and cited his recent legislation banning federal law enforcement from masking their identities in California and greenlighting denser housing near transit hubs.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Using natural sweetening agents or experimenting with spices can improve the texture and flavor of your favorite desserts.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
20 Oct. 2025
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After these crops are exposed to a light freeze near the end of the season, the starches within them gradually turn to sugar, sweetening their palatability.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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An additional photo shows a low shelter, barely tall enough to sit upright, covered in foliage camouflaging the family’s location.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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In their nine years working together, the decorators have developed their own sleight of hand, cleverly camouflaging pragmatic choices as strictly aesthetic ones.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Perfect Gift for Coffee Aficionados Beyond improving your own morning routine, Gaines’ vanilla sugar blend is also a thoughtful gift.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
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After a game where everything wasn’t smooth sailing – Chicago had plenty of pre-snap penalties and Williams’ two fumbles came on botched snaps with the center – the young quarterback says these experiences are important if the team are going to continue improving.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Instead of concealing them, Ban’s shutters filter light and create privacy—transforming utilitarian design into art.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
24 Oct. 2025
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Trump faced criminal counts of conspiring to obstruct justice, concealing documents and making false statements.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Central Indiana Cycling, a bicycling advocacy organization, praised the HAWK signals and other design features like raised crosswalks for enhancing safety.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
22 Oct. 2025
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Antipsychotic medications can reduce hallucinations and delusions, while therapies and rehabilitations can address specific concerns, like teaching cognitive techniques or enhancing social skills to interact with others.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dressing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressing%20up. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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