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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sophisticate
Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 25 Nov. 2024
Want to make your witch a mid-century modern sophisticate?
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Rumaan Alam, New York Times, 21 May 2024
But there are no chips or computerized warning systems sophisticated enough to predict Taiwan’s biggest threat: a deepening political and economic rivalry between the United States and China that threatens to enfold the entire world.
—Frank Shyong, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sophisticate
Noun
With its striking clear glass decanter, Plata makes a perfect gift for novices, sophisticates, and home bartenders.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 25 Nov. 2024
Want to make your witch a mid-century modern sophisticate?
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
Poverty and purpose are more intractable problems, but fate brings Gordon into the circle of the West Village sophisticates Philip and Nicola.
—Rumaan Alam, New York Times, 21 May 2024
But there are no chips or computerized warning systems sophisticated enough to predict Taiwan’s biggest threat: a deepening political and economic rivalry between the United States and China that threatens to enfold the entire world.
—Frank Shyong, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sophisticate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sophisticate
Noun
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Is whiskey a man’s spirit, while women are only allowed to sip cosmopolitans?—
Jessi Roti,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
19 May 2025
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The season’s final scene was with Seema (Choudhury) and Carrie drinking cosmopolitans on the beach in Greece.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Follow label directions to dilute the concentrate before spraying.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
28 May 2025
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Han and Li’s student-teacher relationship in particular is diluted and lacks necessary grounding, and there’s little compelling friction between the two masters to make up for it.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
28 May 2025
Verb
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But Lijn’s mechanized drama is a resolutely feminist one, a face-off between two cyborgs who both conjure and complicate the archetypes of the nature goddess and the murderous woman.—
Marina Isgro,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
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One is the long-running foreclosure of 57-75 Pratt St. involving Shelbourne has complicated the leasing of prominent, vacant storefronts in those buildings.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Crème Brûlée Steve Granitz Crème brûlée is like butter blonde, but dirtied up a bit for a browned, warm tint.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
2 May 2025
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He’s come through with timely hits, dirtied his uniform on the bases and made an impact with his arm in the outfield.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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With the bases now loaded and no one out, Cole started to rear back.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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Anthony Volpe couldn't make the throw to third base, and the Dodgers suddenly had the bases loaded and nobody out.—
Noah Camras,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Verb
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As the film unfolds, Wilson finds out that Sterns, the movie's villain, has been the mastermind behind the entire plot and has been poisoning Ross with gamma rays via pills for years.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
28 May 2025
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Intermediately, because a member of Ethan’s team, Claire (Emmanuelle Béart) has poisoned Donloe, which results in Donloe having some pretty intense gastrointestinal reactions.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Real paint thinner is a solvent used for thinning and removing paint and is typically made of alcohols, esters, petroleum products, organic solvents, and ketones, but the specific makeup varies from brand to brand.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 June 2025
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The Padres still boast a pair of top-50 prospects in shortstop Leo De Vries and catcher Ethan Salas, but the organization’s farm system has been thinned out over the past few years by a slew of win-now trades.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
Verb
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In a series of posts on social media, the National Weather Service warned that that twisters could be cutting across the central and southern part of the metro.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2025
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at Tuesday’s briefing that Vought would continue to cut spending, hinting that there could be additional efforts to return funds.—
Josh Boak,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sophisticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophisticate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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