1
as in detailed
made or done with great care or with much detail
elaborate festivities for the 200th anniversary of the town's founding
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thorough
including many small descriptive features
the elaborate world known as Middle Earth that J.R.R. Tolkien created in his richly imagined novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intricate
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated
plans for a huge mall that will actually be an elaborate center for sports, entertainment, and shopping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elaborate
Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
The 5,000 women in the march came from all around the country and wore elaborate costumes and banners.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins abstained from the vote because of a conflict but did not elaborate.
—Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Adjective
In a twist, the money was never in the hands of the moles and was instead taken to the police as part of an elaborate plan by LT to plant false information and figure out who the snitch in the group was.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
The 5,000 women in the march came from all around the country and wore elaborate costumes and banners.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
In a new interview with BBC Two, Collins elaborated on the chronic ailments that previously prompted him to retire from performing following Genesis’ final tour in 2022.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins abstained from the vote because of a conflict but did not elaborate.
—Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate
Adjective
-
Pearson knew about Debe's hair appointment and gave detectives a detailed description of many items inside her car.—
Sarah Prior,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The best way to deal with this is to be as detailed and lengthy as needed.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Minnesota state investigators would need to be able to conduct a thorough investigation to move forward with potential state charges against the unnamed ICE agent who fatally shot Good, according to Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
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Bath toys deserve a thorough cleaning at least monthly to remove body soil and soap scum that can invite mold and mildew to form.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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For an uncrewed test flight in 2014, called EFT-1, the mission team outfitted an Orion capsule with a heat shield applied in the same manner as in the Apollo era — in an intricate honeycomb-like structure.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
23 Jan. 2026
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The Shark Bay bottlenose dolphins form lifelong relationships that form some of the most intricate social structures in the animal world.—
Hasmik Kirakosyan,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Their characters also had a romantic history and a will-they-won't-they dynamic that unfolded amid the ER's chaos.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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The Legislature’s tax discussions are unfolding in the shadow of a controversial ballot measure proposal to impose a one-time tax on the state’s billionaires.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The city’s journey toward sustainability is complicated.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The near-perfect dish was simple and not overly complicated.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The governor is expected to touch on some budget priorities in his speech, which will come Thursday, one day before state financial officials publish his full spending plan on Friday.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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From long-haul flights to full days on your feet, ballerina sneakers deliver.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These are common but complicate long-term planning for federal agencies.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Despite differing views on a variety of security issues, the group, like Gilpatric’s, reached a clear consensus: nuclear proliferation by any additional country would diminish U.S. power, complicate strategic planning, and increase the likelihood of nuclear use, accidents, and disasters.—
MARIANO-FLORENTINO CUÉLLAR,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As manufacturing continues to evolve, the definition of success will increasingly encompass resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The changing definition of investment-readiness In truth, investment readiness has also evolved since the frenzied years of 2021 and 2022, with the market becoming more selective and fewer themes attracting investment.—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elaborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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