preen

One could preen virtuously after trundling to a local boutique instead of ordering from a faraway online behemoth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

He doesn’t peacock, he doesn’t preen; he is visibly angry with himself when he doesn’t produce.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Maybe it’s happiest tucked into a cast-iron skillet, going golden and jammy while the showier types preen in their baskets.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2025

It might be a bank holiday in the UK, but for the designers, publicists and PAs, it'll be an extraordinarily busy day as they preen and prepare their stars to walk the grand staircase.

From BBC ● May 4, 2025

"You going somewhere, or just wearing a hole in that carpet while you preen?"

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Torelli is a great physical comic; even in wrist restraints, she preens.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2024

Lomakin occasionally overdoes Lieutenant Kelly’s wide-eyed bungling, but Carpenter preens suitably in Confederate uniform.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 29, 2023

Brianne purrs and preens even as she expresses skepticism, and whines and demurs when she might bare real claws.

From New York Times ● Mar. 3, 2023

Robotnik preens, seethes, and contorts his face to spit out condescending sarcasm with all the psychology of a Saturday morning cartoon baddie.

From Slate ● Feb. 14, 2020

He preens on the railing, raising his beak majestically, fluffing his feathers.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

Sporting a flipped bouffant hairstyle and a floral wiggle dress that harked back to the 1967 film “Valley of the Dolls,” she’s not just immaculately preened for her inaugural L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2023

The performances viewers see are not mimed to a studio recording that was made in advance and preened to perfection with editing.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2021

Hagler’s Marvelous nickname was bestowed by a Lowell, Mass., journalist when he fought there as an amateur and preened in the ring, emulating Muhammad Ali.

From New York Times ● Mar. 13, 2021

He preened about how scientific experts marveled at his grasp of the complex details of virology and the way supposedly awestruck doctors asked, "How do you know so much?"

From Salon ● Apr. 15, 2020

Sumac preened himself happily on the other side, and I will say I felt as full and content as Mama Killa at that moment.

From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis

The contrast between the quiet, humble Messi and the preening, ostentatious Ronaldo has defined soccer in recent times and certainly fueled its growth and popularity in the U.S. and parts of Asia.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

When they film themselves preening on their phones, with the images projected onto the giant mirrors, Claire and Solange use filters that turn their sallow, pinched faces into plump-lipped, high-cheekboned ones that suggest Kim Kardashian.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

The ducks are sitting or preening at the water, or about to take flight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

This is not revelation: The defense secretary is well known for preening for the cameras with a level of self-regard that would embarrass most supermodels.

From Salon ● Mar. 13, 2026

The Handsome One squawked in protest, then fluffed himself out and began preening his belly feathers as if to show he didn’t need my assistance.

From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis