Sophisticate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /sə-ˈfi-stə-ˌkāt/ (verb) /sə-ˈfi-sti-kət/ (noun) so·phis·ti·cate

Meaning & Definition of Sophisticate

Sophisticate (verb)

  1. to alter deceptively; especially, adulterate
  2. to deprive of genuineness, naturalness, or simplicity; especially, to deprive of naïveté and make worldly-wise, disillusion
  3. to make complicated or complex

Sophisticate (noun)

  1. a sophisticated person

Sophisticate (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: city slicker, cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, metropolitan, slicker
    related: urbanite, worldling
    opposite: bumpkin, hick, provincial, rustic, yokel

Sophisticate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make complex or difficult

    "there's no need to sophisticate something that is beautiful in its simplicity"

    similar: complex, complexify, complicate, embarrass, entangle, perplex
    related: develop, elaborate, expand, intensify, magnify, confound, confuse, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, snarl, tangle
    opposite: simplify, streamline
    near: abbreviate, cut, shorten, ease, facilitate, disentangle, straighten (out), unravel, untangle, oversimplify

  2. to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances

    "vanilla extract that has been sophisticated with corn syrup"

    similar: adulterate, cut, dilute, extend, lace, thin, water down, weaken
    related: load, befoul, contaminate, corrupt, defile, dirty, envenom, foul, infect, poison, pollute, soil, spoil, sully, taint, cheapen, debase, degrade, manipulate, misrepresent, tamper (with), counterfeit, fake, falsify, fudge, doctor, spike, attenuate, moderate, qualify, temper
    opposite: enrich, fortify, richen, strengthen
    near: fertilize, lard, augment, reinforce, supplement, decontaminate, purify, clarify, clean, cleanse, distill, filter, flush, leach, pasteurize, purge, refine, better, enhance, improve, compact, concentrate, condense

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sophisticate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sophisticate:

city slicker, cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, metropolitan, slicker, complex, complexify, complicate, embarrass, entangle, perplex, adulterate, cut, dilute, extend, lace, thin, water down, weaken

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Sophisticate

Words with the opposite meaning of Sophisticate:

bumpkin, hick, provincial, rustic, yokel, simplify, streamline, enrich, fortify, richen, strengthen

Related Words for Sophisticate

urbanite, worldling, develop, elaborate, expand, intensify, magnify, confound, confuse, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, snarl, tangle, load, befoul, contaminate, corrupt, defile, dirty, envenom, foul, infect, poison, pollute, soil, spoil, sully, taint, cheapen

Near Antonyms of Sophisticate

abbreviate, cut, shorten, ease, facilitate, disentangle, straighten (out), unravel, untangle, oversimplify, fertilize, lard, augment, reinforce, supplement, decontaminate, purify, clarify, clean, cleanse, distill, filter, flush, leach, pasteurize, purge, refine, better, enhance, improve

Word Forms of Sophisticate

Inflections: sophisticated, sophisticating

Origin & Etymology of Sophisticate

Middle English, from Medieval Latin sophisticatus, past participle of sophisticare, from Latin sophisticus sophistic, from Greek sophistikos, from sophistēs sophist

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Sophisticate

What does "Sophisticate" mean?

"Sophisticate" means to alter deceptively; especially, adulterate. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to alter deceptively; especially, adulterate. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Sophisticate"?

Other words for "Sophisticate" include city slicker, cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, metropolitan, slicker, complex, complexify and complicate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sophisticate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sophisticate"?

There are 64 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sophisticate". Common alternatives include city slicker, cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, metropolitan, slicker, complex, complexify, complicate, embarrass and entangle.

What is the opposite of "Sophisticate"?

Antonyms of "Sophisticate" include bumpkin, hick, provincial, rustic, yokel, simplify, streamline and enrich. Near antonyms include abbreviate, cut, shorten and ease.

How do you use "Sophisticate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sophisticate" in a sentence: "sophisticates laughing at people they thought of as hicks"; "there's no need to sophisticate something that is beautiful in its simplicity"; "vanilla extract that has been sophisticated with corn syrup".

Is "Sophisticate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Sophisticate" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Sophisticate"?

"Sophisticate" is pronounced /sə-ˈfi-stə-ˌkāt/ as a verb and /sə-ˈfi-sti-kət/ as a noun and divided into syllables as so·phis·ti·cate.

What is the origin of the word "Sophisticate"?

"Sophisticate" comes from Middle English, from Medieval Latin sophisticatus, past participle of sophisticare, from Latin sophisticus sophistic, from Greek sophistikos, from sophistēs sophist. First known use: 15th century.