prettify

[ prit-uh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, pret·ti·fied, pret·ti·fy·ing.

1. to make pretty, especially in a small, petty way:

   to prettify a natural beauty.

2. to minimize or gloss over (something unpleasant):

   to prettify his rude behavior.

prettify

/ ˈprɪtɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. tr to make pretty, esp in a trivial fashion; embellish

Derived Forms

• ˈprettiˌfier, noun
• ˌprettifiˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• pretti·fi·cation noun
• pretti·fier noun
• un·pretti·fied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prettify¹

First recorded in 1840–50; prett(y) + -ify

Example Sentences

The two communicate by text: An sends singing videos with their face prettified by a filter; Star, a stream-of-consciousness barrage of messages and voice mail messages that usually go unacknowledged.

From New York Times

Her prettified version, sapped of political power, looks like part of a low-impact exercise class in the park.

From New York Times

In their telling, she added, “rivers were supposed to be prettified, we were supposed to generate significant quantities of clean electricity and local communities were promised it will all benefit them greatly.”

From Seattle Times

Graf’s approach is admirably less enamored with the prettifying impulses so many filmmakers rely on to capture the past, and instead centered on putting us inside it.

From Los Angeles Times

Even these startlingly grim numbers have been heavily prettified by Root, who has been papering over some tectonic faults in his team's batting.

From BBC

Related Words

• adorn
• beautify
• bedeck
• embellish
• embroider
• festoon
• fix up
• spruce up