greasepaint

noun

grease·​paint ˈgrēs-ˌpānt How to pronounce greasepaint (audio)
1
: a melted tallow or grease used in theater makeup
2
: theater makeup

Examples of greasepaint in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The greasepaint rockers were slated to kick off the U.K. portion of the outing on June 3 at Home Park Stadium in Plymouth, but on Tuesday the venue announced that the show has been canceled. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 May 2023 The intoxicating smell of the greasepaint? Graham Techler, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2023 Trending Proto-clown stage makeup in rock goes back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, when artists like Arthur Brown and Alice Cooper found that a little greasepaint went a long way. Cassidy George, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2023 The final touch was a pencil-thin greasepaint mustache. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 12 May 2022 For the era between 1940 and 1948, Kendrick used aging light and shade makeup and broken capillaries with greasepaint to achieve the look. Rachel Burchfield, Harper's BAZAAR, 18 Apr. 2022 So Evie grows up a vaudeville brat, a half-orphan raised on short rations, insecurity and the smell of greasepaint. Sarah Bird, Dallas News, 11 Apr. 2022 Conceiving the signature sweaty greasepaint look was only one part of the challenge for Lopez-Rivera as Davis’s personal makeup artist. Emma Fraser, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2021 Sweat and greasepaint sluicing off her, her gold teeth glinting in her mouth, Davis’ Ma Rainey reveals the way the blues are wrung not just from a voice but also from a defiant body containing historical multitudes. Dallas News, 11 Dec. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'greasepaint.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of greasepaint was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near greasepaint

Cite this Entry

“Greasepaint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greasepaint. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

greasepaint

noun
grease·​paint ˈgrē-ˌspānt How to pronounce greasepaint (audio)
: theatrical makeup

More from Merriam-Webster on greasepaint

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