GUSSY UP Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

gussy up

verb

ˈgə-sē-ˈəp

Definition of gussy up

as in to decorate

to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming gone are the days when the high school prom was held in the gym, which had been gussied up for the occasion

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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 gussy up And as long as building owners gussy up their lobbies or add some amenities that make sense for the space, like a rooftop terrace, there’s usually a tenant for them. — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 18 Sep. 2026 Kristin Keyes, interior designer in Nashville, Tennessee, is also a fan of drapery panels, particularly to highlight interior French doors and gussy up front doors. — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 13 May 2026 This is increasingly becoming a thing theaters are experimenting with, tapping into the latest TikTok trends to gussy up your pop. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026 But why is Nvidia voluntarily forfeiting an accounting maneuver that helps companies gussy up their results? — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2026 Alongside letting fans treat Majima like a Ken doll by fashioning his outfits, hairstyles, makeup, and jewelry, the game allows players to customize and gussy up his sea vessel. — Isaiah Colbert, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2025 This luxe velvet Jennifer Behr Velvet Bow Barrette is classic enough to pair with jeans and a white tee, but can easily gussy up a nap dress with a clip of its barrette (no behind-the-head, blind-tying necessary). — Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 27 Sep. 2024 Our readers offered their hacks to gussy up a frozen pizza and tips to make it from scratch. — Tejal Rao, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024 Took several payments of $350,000—to gussy up China’s image in the West. — Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 14 July 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gussy up

Verb

Whitney McLaughlin, an art teacher at the school, worked with students through an after-school mural program to create artwork that now decorates a building at the park.

— CBS News, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
About one-third (34 and 32 percent, respectively) begin decorating before November compared with 11 percent of boomers.

— Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of decorate

Verb

Hiding his Caesar cut under his signature New York Yankees cap and adorned with a glittery stack of gold chains, JAY-Z kept his setlist as tight as his concert attire of bulletproof vests.

— Adelle Platon, VIBE.com, 24 Oct. 2026
For the closing set, according to a photo posted on X and various videos, the legendary rocker was lifted onto the stage while seated on a black throne adorned with skulls and topped with a black bat.

— Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of adorn

Browse Nearby Words

gussying up

gussy up

gust

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“Gussy up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gussy%20up. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of gussy up

verb

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