gussying up

verb

present participle of gussy up
as in decorating
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gussying up
  1. decorating
  2. adorning
  3. doing up
  4. draping
Verb
  • The caffè is the most casual of the bunch, with big red armchairs and vintage posters decorating the walls.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That’s why Tonsmeire heads to TJ Maxx for help decorating clients’ bathrooms.
    — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of decorating
Verb
  • But the very act of putting on a wearable—of willingly adorning oneself with a tiny computerized narc—is an act of surrender.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In the photo, the father-son duo was all smiles, adorning matching jiu-jitsu outfits.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of adorning
Verb
  • What in the world are those overgrown basketballs doing up there?
    — Rui Bo, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
  • Wednesday’s practice started with some of the players doing up-downs after forgetting equipment.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of doing up
Verb
  • The three-layer cake was designed to reflect the structure of the reception room — fondant draped like the velvet draping on the walls adorned the sides of the cake, with edible pearl detailing.
    — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Its medium weight feels substantial without being too heavy, and its 50 x 60 inch size is perfect for draping over a sofa or armchair.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of draping
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Gussying up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gussying%20up. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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