DRESSES UP Synonyms: 127 Similar and Opposite Words

dresses up

verb

present tense third-person singular of dress up

as in dresses

to put on one's best or formal clothes we always like to dress up when going to parties

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in disguises

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

as in spruces

to make more desirable dressed up the house with new windows and a paint job before putting it on the market

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in clothes

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

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 dresses up In a town that dresses up the seafood shack classics, Barbary Coast’s Mediterranean menu stands apart. — Madeline Bilis, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026 This Amazon style has a similar polished pointed-toe design that not only dresses up your outfit but also elongates your legs. — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 Allie dresses up as Jennifer Lopez—plunging green Versace dress and all. — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 29 May 2026 Creamy Parmesan sauce dresses up bowtie pasta, collard greens, asparagus, and peas for a simple and nutritious main course. — Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 24 Apr. 2026 These men are supported by Nancy, a woman who dresses up in a nurse’s costume but seems to have no medical training. — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 The performer dresses up in a Bigfoot costume and plays along with electronic music on the saxophone. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026 Of course, it’s made from the brand’s luxurious signature Italian leather, which dresses up any look from the office to the airport. — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026 Denim Royale features luxe finishes and denim that dresses up without losing authenticity. — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dresses up

Verb

Later, CeCe dresses her up in a pink tutu and makes up a dance for her kitten.

— Parents, Parents, 31 July 2026
Young, who dresses Dakota Johnson, Julianne Moore, and Scarlett Johansson, spotlighted it as an essential for summer travel in her latest Quince curation.

— Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 31 July 2026

Definition of dresses

Verb

Today, greenwashing often disguises the true nature of corporate activity by appealing to the increasing number of people who care about environmental sustainability.

— Marissa E. Yingling, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026
The film itself is about a Jewish woman who refuses the limits imposed on her mind and disguises herself as a man in order to study, and the parallel was impossible to miss.

— Debbie Millman, Time, 25 July 2026

Definition of disguises

Verb

Adding smarter tracking, even slower slow motion, and a new color profile that can capture 17 EV of dynamic range further sweetens the deal.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 30 July 2026
Danko’s angelic voice sweetens every song, and the organ/piano fusion of Manuel and Hudson ties it all together.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 20 July 2026

Definition of sweetens

Verb

The current acceleration in European EV sales - in the first half of 2026 EV sales rose about 40% to 1,220,890 (ACEA) compared with the same period last year - masks the overriding failure.

— Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
My hope is our offense will be unstoppable, while my defense mostly gets shredded over the middle but masks it with strip-sacks and interceptions.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of masks

Verb

This creates a thin thermal boundary layer and improves heat transfer at the point of impact.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Shorter grass improves seed-to-soil contact and lets more sunlight reach the soil surface for better seed germination.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of improves

Verb

Co-created by Amber Noizumi and Michael Green, Blue Eye Samurai follows the story of Mizu, a samurai who conceals her gender and mixed-race heritage after facing a life of discrimination, on a personal quest for revenge.

— Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 21 Aug. 2026
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus initially conceals his identity as the Messiah from even his closest disciples.

— John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of conceals

Verb

Packed with potent ingredients like isopropyl cloprostenate, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E, this formula nurtures and enhances your brows from the root.

— Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
Gay, who is borderline to make the 53-man roster even with a high number of LB injuries, has seen his special teams participation increase recently, which enhances his chances of making the final roster.

— Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of enhances

Verb

The expansion will take players to the brand new realm of Letten — an idyllic land of rural tradition that hides a dark secret just below the surface.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Who’s flaunting their skeletal frame and who hides a bit behind a couture wall of feathers?

— Marti Noxon, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of hides

Browse Nearby Words

dresses down

dresses up

dressing

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dresses up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dresses%20up. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of dresses up

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes