MAKES UP Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

makes up

verb

present tense third-person singular of make up

as in comprises

to be all the substance of the book is made up of 20 chapters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in devises

to create or think of by clever use of the imagination she keeps making up excuses as to why she hasn't yet finished the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in builds

to form by putting together parts or materials we'll have to make up the bookcase, which came in a box marked "some assembly required"

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 makes up Colorado River water makes up 40% of the supplies Phoenix feeds to its customers. — Alex Hager, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 Dark matter makes up a little more than a quarter of the Universe. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026 Making memory foam breathe Cooling materials can only do so much if warm air remains trapped inside a mattress, so ventilation makes up another substantial part of the design. — New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026 Over the course of three decades, Tony pieced together the land that now makes up the sprawling compound. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2026 Viewers shouldn’t look for the freewheeling commentary and opinion that makes up so much of online chatter. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026 Most defaults are in healthcare, but there are concerns this could spread to software, which makes up 20% of lending. — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Standard jeans, which retail for $30-$75, makes up 40 percent. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 13 July 2026 The bank estimates running makes up about 12% of Adidas’ group sales, with the category growing 28% in the first quarter of 2026. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 6 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for makes up

Verb

Clinique’s new Daily Calm Collection comprises skincare and makeup designed expressly for those with sensitive or post-procedure skin.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Both the green entryway and the reddish oak that comprises the door frames and kitchen nod to the apartment’s original color palette.

— Belén Afonso, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of comprises

Verb

The British-American actress plays Hannah, a music student who devises a fake dating scheme with hockey star Garrett (Belmont Cameli) to catch the attention of her crush, Justin (Josh Heuston).

— Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Six men are eaten by the Cyclops before Odysseus devises a plan to escape from the cave they are trapped in.

— Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026

Definition of devises

Verb

Paranormal Activity, the play, builds to the sort of slick and grisly finale that would be just right for the end of a cruel horror movie, but that lands awkwardly onstage.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
This builds flavor in your dish before any flavorful liquids or other seasonings are added.

— Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of builds

Verb

From one vantage, Kardashian’s path to global superstardom was borne by a perfect storm of time, place, person, and opportunity—a convergence of the smartphone, social media, reality TV, and the changing conception of what constitutes a celebrity.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
There is little for police to do besides offer condolences, ask questions and carry out their legal duty to confirm the parents did nothing that constitutes a crime in Idaho.

— Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of constitutes

Verb

The new film continues the story of the conclusion of Holland’s third Spider-Man film, where Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) concocts a spell to make everyone forget Peter as a way to save the multiverse.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Driver’s character concocts a way for the duo to start an environmental business together as Russians, largely the mafia, are involved in recalibrating a canal in New York City.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 17 May 2026

Definition of concocts

Verb

What sets leaders apart, however, is who constructs their fortress before the moment becomes overwhelming.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
However, environmental and geopolitical concerns remain high as China constructs a massive 60-gigawatt dam downstream in Medog County.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of constructs

Verb

Increasingly, success depends not on who invents first, but on who can manufacture, deploy and scale those innovations most effectively.

— Ariyan Kabir, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Yet history reminds us that technological leadership is rarely determined solely by who invents it first.

— Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026