preen
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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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
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
A background performer in a hat draped with ivy sways to disco music while another in gold chain flaps preens in his fringed jacket.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2019
“Methinks she preens her feathers just for me,” Guildenstern boasted.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
He preened, grabbed his oversized scissors and opened his mouth to boast, but no one could hear a single word over the deafening roar of Marine One’s idling engines.
From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2026
With a singular presence and a deeply personal cadence, he preened and strode, quipped, opined, demanded and screamed into many, many telephones.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2022
Some guests — who preened in eye-popping colors, aggressive patterns, velvet slippers and stiletto heels — were art-struck.
From New York Times ● Mar. 11, 2022
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
“She’s very bright,” she told Adele, who preened at the news.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
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
As in most of the director’s movies, the characters behave like preening betta fish.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
At 41 years old, Ronaldo represents a living, breathing, preening conundrum for his national team.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
The ducks are sitting or preening at the water, or about to take flight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
She constantly touches her hair and adjusts her makeup like a swan preening in the sunshine.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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