preening

verb

present participle of preen
1
as in gloating

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in primping

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for preening
  1. gloating
  2. primping
  3. exulting
Verb
  • LeBron James got the business from Knicks fans still gloating and riding an emotional high from an NBA championship banner celebration.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But Carrie only feels shame and guilt over her actions, rejecting Emmaline’s celebratory gloating over the incident.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of gloating
Verb
  • Plus, check out the rest of her hair primping routine, below.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 5 July 2026
  • The small reception desk seems tight on space, but most employees are out in the lobby welcoming guests, straightening pillows in the waterfront lounge, and primping the magnificent flower arrangements anyway.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Definition of primping
Verb
  • Le Guin’s prose and poetry mourn the dead forest and other living Earth beings while exulting at the mountain’s power.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Jenner, like her sister Kim Kardashian, has often turned to Margiela for her most major moments, with an affinity for the house’s sensual, body-exulting designs.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2026
Definition of exulting
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.

Browse Nearby Words

preened
preening
preens
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Cite this Entry

“Preening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preening. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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