embellishment

noun

em·​bel·​lish·​ment im-ˈbe-lish-mənt 

1

: the act or process of embellishing

2

: something serving to embellish

3

: ornament sense 5

Synonyms

• adornment
• beautifier
• caparison
• decoration
• doodad
• embellisher
• frill
• garnish
• garnishment
• garniture
• ornament
• ornamentation
• setoff
• trim

Examples of embellishment in a Sentence

a colorful mobile is just the embellishment that the soon-to-be nursery needs

the actor's penchant for embellishment suggests that his memoirs would be more appropriately shelved in the fiction section

Recent Examples on the Web

Continue reading … 'TALL TALES' – NYT issues fact-check of Biden's 'tales,' 'hyperbole' and 'embellishment'; says Trump has 'stream of lies'. —Fox News, 10 June 2024

The dress featured a corset top, full A-line skirt, long sleeves and pearl embellishments throughout, with an off-the-shoulder sweetheart neckline and a sheer, high-neck overlay. —Jessica Booth, Peoplemag, 8 June 2024

Who can blame a tabloid journalist for a little embellishment? —Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, 2 June 2024

Wintour herself attended the preview in a long green coat complete with bright floral embellishments at the sleeves and the base. —Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 6 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1