smarten (up)

verb

Definition of smarten (up)next
as in to primp

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarten (up)
  1. primp
  2. doll up
  3. preen
  4. dress up
Verb
  • Plus, check out the rest of her hair primping routine, below.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 5 July 2026
  • Troye Sivan arrives primped for the Prada dinner during Milan Fashion Week on June 21.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
Definition of primp
Verb
  • Looking to doll up your collarbones instead?
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The store had to be closed for several days while volunteers set the dolls up for display, and only 25 shoppers could be allowed in at a time for viewing because of the dolls’ values.
    — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Definition of doll up
Verb
  • Observe black cockatoos preen in the drooping she-oaks, or marvel at the Dali-esque outback, filled with its skeletal mallee trees.
    — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026
  • Recall how Silicon Valley’s CEO celebrities stood right behind the President on Inauguration Day in January 2025, preening over the crowd before them.
    — Olivier Sylvain, Fortune, 16 May 2026
Definition of preen
Verb
  • This linen maxi skirt is the easiest solution to dressing up basic tees and tanks in my everyday rotation.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 6 July 2026
  • Villalobos wasn’t the only one dressed up as the comedic character.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
Definition of dress up
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

smartens (up)
smarten (up)
smarties
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Cite this Entry

“Smarten (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarten%20%28up%29. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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