as in cosmopolitan
a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers
sophisticates laughing at people they thought of as hicks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to complex
to make complex or difficult
there's no need to sophisticate something that is beautiful in its simplicity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to dilute
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
vanilla extract that has been sophisticated with corn syrup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sophisticate
Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2025
Few things jar the delicate pretensions of the cocktail sophisticate so much as a drink with a chicken on top.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
Logistically accelerating techno-economic interactivity crumbles social order in auto-sophisticating machine runaway.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sophisticate
Noun
Despite parents’ efforts, allowances aren’t necessarily minting a new generation of financial sophisticates.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2025
Few things jar the delicate pretensions of the cocktail sophisticate so much as a drink with a chicken on top.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
The Aritzia Generation Crepette Blazer is effortlessly sophisticated, with an oversized yet slim silhouette that can be dressed up or down.
—Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
Logistically accelerating techno-economic interactivity crumbles social order in auto-sophisticating machine runaway.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sophisticate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sophisticate
Noun
-
There's a matinee for students and daytime explorers and a Saturday night outing for date-night cosmopolitans.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
In that series, Michelle Pfeiffer’s cosmopolitan Stacy Clyburn learns to embrace the American West after a tragedy forces her to leave New York City for the Madison River Valley in central Montana.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But that thematic potential is diluted in a movie that keeps hurtling forward without gathering steam.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
-
The dual-class share structure ensures that going public will not meaningfully dilute Musk’s grip on the company.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Substance use disorders further complicate the conversation.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Denser transistor packing can reduce die area but may concentrate heat flux, complicating cooling in existing rack infrastructure.—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
Verb
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But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bubic walked second baseman Chase Meidroth, surrendered a single to third baseman Miguel Vargas and walked Murakami to load the bases with one out in the third inning.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
Leo Wilderman was walked intentionally to load the bases, bringing up Brown.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Despite evidence that the two got along well enough, rumors spread in Vienna after Mozart’s death that Salieri had poisoned him.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Boys State team Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss are behind Teenage Wasteland, which revisits the story of a group of teenagers in upstate New York, who in the early 1990s make a film that uncovers a conspiracy that is poisoning their community.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Full sun shrubs do well with six or more hours of sunlight, but may thin out in part-sun locations.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
-
Under the thinning clouds, the Gulf was like a fogged mirror.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The rooms Rooms are decorated in a cool, muted Pacific Northwest palette—soft shades, brass accents, and heavy drapes that cut the light just right.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
-
Jake and Violet finally get married — and Station 42 gets to cut loose on the dance floor.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sophisticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophisticate. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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