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Definition of dressnext
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as in gown
a garment with a joined blouse and skirt usually worn by a woman or girl what a lovely dress you're wearing today!

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as in costume
clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation a bagpiper in full Scottish Highlander dress

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dress

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adjective

dress

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verb

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as in to bandage
to cover with a bandage first wash and then dress the wound

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 dress
Noun
The initial stills released on Wednesday show the Chicago actress in a yellow dress serving at a bar, and The Silence of the Lambs actor bundled up in a hat and coat. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026 Black might just be at its best after the sun’s gone down, so go ahead and render your entire date-night outfit in the shade—dress, bag, heels, and all. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
The camera then cuts to the Foo Fighters, dressed in nice, clean, crisp white outfits, performing to an ecstatic crowd similarly dressed in nice, clean, crisp white outfits. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2026 That is prejudice dressed in the language of security. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress
Noun
  • At the New York City premiere on April 13, Hathaway embraced a futuristic, sculptural aesthetic on the red carpet, turning heads in a sheer gown that played with light and movement.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
  • The photo, posted to the social networking site LinkedIn, shows him in a cap and gown after graduating with a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
    Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • On Saturday afternoon, someone dressed as the Christian messiah was among the dozens of people in costumes and masks seen on a video forcing open the door of a Scientology building on Hollywood Boulevard after a tug-of-war with a security guard.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Their parents would come and look at the costumes and buildings in horror.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Unlike in their losses in Games 5 and 6, the Celtics weren’t as quick to fire up 3s, instead opting to attack the interior of the 76ers defense more to get easier looks.
    Kyle Hightower, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
  • Chesney and many players got their first look at the Rose Bowl lit up at night during a visit Friday.
    Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Adjective
  • The dress code was white tie—known as the most formal dress code in the United States.
    Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Authorities say a homicide investigation that began in 1973 has now been brought to a formal close, more than a half-century after a woman was found dead in a Northern Virginia state forest.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • His head was bandaged and his hands were behind his back in handcuffs.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The clip opens with the character Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries, bandaged and bloody, lying in a hospital bed.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Cakes big and small are the ideal stage for your wildest decorating dreams.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Each of the suites are decorated with the same Mediterranean style and have private patios and balconies perfect for watching the sunset.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That means steep hills, slick cobblestones, long outdoor lunches, golden-hour strolls, late-night cocktails, and somehow still looking polished through all of it.
    Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Why had someone polished smooth one of the crania and decorated another with a pattern of scratch marks?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Matter—slim, dark-haired, attired in a dark blue zip-up sweater and matinee idol handsome—is a natural entertainer who savored every moment holding a mic.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
  • They were identically attired, in a dark suit and dark glasses.
    Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

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