MAKE UP Synonyms: 159 Similar and Opposite Words

make up 1 of 2

verb

Definition of make up

as in to comprise

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to devise

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 to build

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

makeup

2 of 2

noun

ˈmāk-ˌəp

as in paint

preparations intended to beautify the face she never left the house without applying her makeup and arranging her jewelry

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in design

the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged the makeup of the memorial is strikingly simple: a single massive globe signifying world unity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 make up

Verb

Hundreds of ships making up the shadow fleet illicitly shipping oil to fuel Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort have been targeted too. — Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 No amount of gamifying the module can make up for the fact that L&D training is often structurally disconnected from the job employees do. — James Glover, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Noun

The tired girl aesthetic runs on light makeup that stays sheer, smudged and undone rather than heavily blended or set. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Better yet, the formula boasts impressive staying power for up to 16 hours, taking your makeup from morning coffee to after-work cocktails. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for make up

Recent Examples of Synonyms for make up

Verb

Silvester envisions his new Q-Class association eventually leading to a global racing circuit, comprising Victoria and Q7’s six remaining slots for new builds.

— Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2026
All-in, the equipment weighs almost 500 tonnes and comprises more than 40 shipping containers and several oversized loads.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of comprise

Verb

To create objects with collapsibility as a core feature, Toyonaga’s team devised an analytic design algorithm allowing incremental construction of complex scissored surfaces.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
Then, in a famous 1937 paper, the mathematician Alan Turing devised a model based on hypothetical machines that could read and write symbols printed on an infinite tape according to a set of simple rules.

— Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of devise

Noun

The Fire turned up the pressure defensively in the paint and consistently bullied the Dream out of it.

— Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The town will unveil the renovations next month and the improvements include a new paint job on the interior of the historic building, a repaired 19th-century chalkboard pulley system and repair of the several small holes in the roof.

— Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of paint

Noun

The contestants will have to design a wedding dress that showcases their style, and the winning design will be produced and sold by David’s Bridal.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
The researchers say a phase-change heatsink can reduce size and weight by more than 50 percent while maintaining the thermal capacity of a conventional design.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of design

Verb

Anurag Saikia composed the music for the first track, which features vocals by Jyoti Nooran and lyrics by Shakeel Azmi.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
One such scene that appears captured, not composed, arises when a playful exchange about AccRite’s dead son on a job site goes too far.

— Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of compose

Verb

But this is largely a myth, concocted by critics and cool kids to explain away and undercut the popularity of their music.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026
Think hands-on, creative culinary practices like concocting herbal infusions, blending spices, and fermenting.

— Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of concoct

Verb

But Boulder City’s planning commission voted unanimously against constructing the data center on city land, according to the Current.

— Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
In addition to water, many are concerned about consumer protections regarding electricity rate increases, demands on renewable energy and requirements about who gets employed to construct data centers.

— Greta Reich, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of construct

Browse Nearby Words

make tracks

make up

makeup

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Make up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make%20up. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of make up

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

apiary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

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

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes