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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preen
Which is why, having failed to stop the coming spending cuts with preening puffery and shameless dishonesty, defenders of taxpayer dollars for public media have pulled out the last tool out of their political toolbox.
—
Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 18 July 2025
Much like his previous turn in Purple Noon, as Jean-Paul Delon embodies the preening narcissist whose barely concealed vulnerability and jealousy lead him to murder a rival.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Ferrell's Ricky Bobby also serves as a pitch-perfect parody of the ego-driven, preening male protagonists of many a racing film.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 20 May 2025
Hard to compare anything to a president of the most powerful country in the world preening about getting a $400 million jet from a little country on the other side of the world.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for preen
Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 18 July 2025
Much like his previous turn in Purple Noon, as Jean-Paul Delon embodies the preening narcissist whose barely concealed vulnerability and jealousy lead him to murder a rival.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Ferrell's Ricky Bobby also serves as a pitch-perfect parody of the ego-driven, preening male protagonists of many a racing film.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 20 May 2025
Hard to compare anything to a president of the most powerful country in the world preening about getting a $400 million jet from a little country on the other side of the world.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for preen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preen
Verb
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Mamdani slammed for using kids in campaign videos after gloating about social media-free childhood.—
,
FOXNews.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Nina not being there contributed to one of the most irritating moments in this season so far, with Antonio smugly blowing a kiss into the camera for her and gloating about being in the top after her harsh critique last week.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The gladiators are primped by stylists and costume designers before the blood flows.—
Bob Minzesheimer,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 2025
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Seymour shared a glimpse of the show’s backstage glamour as she was dressed and primped for the catwalk.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
Fox News,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Messi, at 35, led his country to glory against France, winning soccer’s ultimate prize in a pulsating match that finished 3-3 after extra time and had to be settled by a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.—
Patrick Smith,
NBC News,
19 Dec. 2022
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If Harris can bring together a family with Indian, African, and Jewish heritage, America can glory in its diversity.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
26 Aug. 2020
Verb
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Harsh critics see it (rightly so, perhaps) as having little to no story, while fans love to exult in the silly CGI spectacles.—
Chris Snellgrove,
EW.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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Ulla’s parents had exulted in Cancún because of the exchange rate; Sunny remembered a previous conversation about how they’d been excited to eat four tacos for a dollar twenty-five.—
Kiran Desai,
New Yorker,
3 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preen. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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