as in elegant
being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance
a slim, spruce man in a tailor-made business suit
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spruce
Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Feb. 2026
Gallagher spent the first week of December sprucing it up, artfully decorating Christmas trees and doing her best to spread holiday cheer to the house's 150 families.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Very few of today’s displays predate the 1990s, with some being renovated over the years to either spruce them up or change their theme.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
Available in various colors, from black to blush pink patent leather, the closed toe pumps offer an adjustable buckle slingback strap and fun geometric side cut-outs that spruce your outfit up.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spruce
Verb
Something always needs stabilizing, fixing or sprucing in a 174-year-old building.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Feb. 2026
Gallagher spent the first week of December sprucing it up, artfully decorating Christmas trees and doing her best to spread holiday cheer to the house's 150 families.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Very few of today’s displays predate the 1990s, with some being renovated over the years to either spruce them up or change their theme.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
Available in various colors, from black to blush pink patent leather, the closed toe pumps offer an adjustable buckle slingback strap and fun geometric side cut-outs that spruce your outfit up.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spruce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spruce
Adjective
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Attendees marked the historic occasion dressed in traditional barongs — formalwear finely woven from piña, or pineapple fibers — as well as elegant Filipiniana outfits and ternos, the traditional formal gowns instantly recognizable by their structured butterfly sleeves.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
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Stay at Lucknam Park, an elegant country retreat near Bath.—
Lindsay Cohn,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Posts from other Knicks fans say the user tried tricking them as well.—
Tim McNicholas,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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These websites closely resemble legitimate ticketing and checkout platforms and can allow scammers to steal log-in credentials, personal information and credit card numbers and trick you into sending in payments.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Travel costs keep climbing in 2026, and a wellness retreat at home is becoming the smarter way to reset without spending thousands on flights and resort stays.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2026
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There’s also a smart key system with proximity detection, automatic steering wheel unlocking, and seat opening.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 13,
New Atlas,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The Knicks improved to 4-0 in closeout opportunities this season, winning them all on the road.—
Tim Reynolds,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
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Parents and beauty enthusiasts alike praise its ability to smooth stubborn bumps and improve skin texture.—
Cheryl Fenton,
Parents,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Beren has achived high ratings from customers since moving into a stylish dining room that was formerly a vegetarian fine-dining restaurant.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
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Baby blue is tranquil and stylish—but just offbeat enough to be interesting.—
Elle Turner,
Glamour,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The show was named after one of these ships, The Terror (the second was The Erebus) and it’s all based on a true story, though wildly embellished both out of necessity and for entertainment purposes.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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It was elaborately embellished, heavy — an actual work of art.—
Allison Johnson,
The Verge,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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This year’s Royal Ascot is officially underway in England, and the royal family's latest addition—Harriet Sperling—gave a fashionable nod to Kate Middleton with her light blue ensemble.—
Staff Author,
InStyle,
16 June 2026
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The costumes are more fantastical than grittily realistic as well, with a hip Steampunk vibe that’s more fashionable than purely Victorian.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Looking to doll up your collarbones instead?—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
7 Oct. 2025
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The store had to be closed for several days while volunteers set the dolls up for display, and only 25 shoppers could be allowed in at a time for viewing because of the dolls’ values.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spruce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spruce. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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