Synonyms for preen
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Flaunt — to show off, posture, or smarm
fluff one's feathers, swagger, strut one's stuff, three-sheet, gallery, yaya, flaunt formal dated, flex slang, cut round slang dated US, ostent dated
3. Smarten up — to spend time making oneself attractive and admiring one's appearance, e.g. in front of a mirror
Other
Definitions
- v. 1
To spend time making oneself attractive and admiring one's appearance, e.g. in front of a mirror.
- v. 2
To show off, posture, or smarm.
- v. 3
To flatter.
- v. 4
To pin; fasten.
Forms
- Past participle
- preened
e.g. preened → swaggered, three-sheeted, galleried, flaunted…
Example sentences
- congratulate I would just like to congratulate Tom for his work.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| preen | rising | |
| swagger | rising | |
| congratulate | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- flex1, puff1, yaya
- 5 letters
- dress1, jolly2, plume1, primp1
- 6 letters
- stroke1, flaunt1, ostent
- 7 letters
- gallery3, swagger2
- 12 letters
- congratulate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (jolly2 = 2 syllables).