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
Relevance
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sophisticate
James Powel, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Those are welcome at the box office, but would face a steep climb with the film Academy’s growing crowd of international sophisticates.
—Michael Cieply, Deadline, 1 July 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
Want to make your witch a mid-century modern sophisticate?
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Those are welcome at the box office, but would face a steep climb with the film Academy’s growing crowd of international sophisticates.
—Michael Cieply, Deadline, 1 July 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
-
Billionaire cosmopolitans who want to hire immigrants don’t mix easily with vehemently nativist populists who want to ratchet up taxes on said billionaires.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Whereas descendants of the British are much more classically viewed as cosmopolitans.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
To take apple cider vinegar before bed, dilute it in water and drink the mixture 2-3 hours before bed to prevent acid reflux.—
Johna Burdeos,
Health,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Sometimes, the healthiest choice is saying no — to overcommitment, to untrustworthy allies, to mission creep that dilutes your impact, or to compromises that undermine your values.—
Jay Ruderman,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Missing their leading scorer and best player will complicate that pursuit.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Additionally, the digital scan has complicated a controversial narrative about a first officer on the Titanic: William Murdoch, who has long been accused of abandoning his post.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
For example, a small non-shedding dog that rarely goes outside won't dirty a bed nearly as fast as a large labarador that plays outside daily.—
Halee Miller Van Ryswyk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Grease dirtied the handles of the ovens, the microwave ovens and the coolers.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Holt Logistics employs about 500 workers at the Port of Philadelphia, where longshoremen unpack and load products like fruit from around the world — produce destined for supermarkets across the U.S.—
Tom Hanson,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The Mets had the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning and were already leading 9-5 when Tyrone Taylor hit a deep drive to the warning track at Citi Field.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Until Henry momentarily excuses himself from the table, that is, and the person or persons behind these winky-wink messages tell her to poison Henry ASAP or the menacing guy currently hiding in her apartment will kill her boy.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Calls to poison control centers for pediatric melatonin ingestion increased 530 percent between 2012 and 2021, according to one analysis published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
This radiation thins Earth’s ozone layer and lets in more ultra violet (UV) and the interaction of these particles with the Earth’s magnetic field also results in aurora.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
16 Apr. 2025
-
But the crowds have thinned out since the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.—
Jessica Garrison,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Those scenes were ultimately cut for space before the show ever started production, so Mazin resurrected the idea for Season 2.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2025
-
In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that more than 80% of all USAID grants were being permanently cut.—
Violet Ikong,
Christian Science Monitor,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sophisticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophisticate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share