ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

1

: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric entry 1 sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style

He is clear and simple rather than ornate and pompous.

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

2

: elaborately or excessively decorated

an ornate mantle

an ornate townhouse

ornate chandeliers

ornately adverb

ornateness noun

Synonyms of ornate

• baroque
• decorated
• adorned
• extravagant
• ornamented
• gilded
• florid
• loud
• lacy
• overwrought
• gingerbread
• overdecorated

Examples of ornate in a Sentence

She doesn't like ornate jewelry.

an ornate gambling casino that is designed to look like an Italian palace

Recent Examples on the Web

Matching the art deco style of the Hôtel Martinez (with the font mimicking that of the actual marquee), the new While Lotus logo is a major departure from the ornate flowers featured in the first seasons. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

Another showed Teresa and Gia seated on an ornate blue-and-gold sofa inside a formal White House room. — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Her style is pithy and blunt, avoiding the ornate sentence structure of classical German. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

In Chinese history, the Song was neither as expansive as the Tang nor as ornate as the Qing. — Li Jun, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ornat, from Latin ornatus, past participle of ornare to furnish, embellish; akin to Latin ordo order — more at order

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ornate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

: decorated in a fancy way

ornately adverb

ornateness noun