1
: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style
He is clear and simple rather than ornate and pompous.—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
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
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
Drawing from the series’ most iconic symbols — bows, bees, wisteria, and friendship motifs — the collection reimagines Bridgerton’s ornate world through a modern, wearable lens.
—Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
The five-bedroom spread favors clean lines and a graphic, modern look over anything overtly ornate.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2026
Valentino's Georgette fabrics, chiffon ruffles and ornate embellishments, including the exclusive budellini technique − where sheep's wool is hand-rolled into tubes, wrapped in silk and stitched together − won him a multitude of awards, including France's highest civilian distinction in 2006.
—Kim Willis, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
Originally designed by Chicago architect August Maritzen in the grand, eclectic, and ornate Second Empire style, the building served as the heart of the Pearl Brewery Company complex (owned by the popular beer brand Pabst Brewing Company) for decades.
—Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ornate
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Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
The five-bedroom spread favors clean lines and a graphic, modern look over anything overtly ornate.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2026
Valentino's Georgette fabrics, chiffon ruffles and ornate embellishments, including the exclusive budellini technique − where sheep's wool is hand-rolled into tubes, wrapped in silk and stitched together − won him a multitude of awards, including France's highest civilian distinction in 2006.
—Kim Willis, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
Originally designed by Chicago architect August Maritzen in the grand, eclectic, and ornate Second Empire style, the building served as the heart of the Pearl Brewery Company complex (owned by the popular beer brand Pabst Brewing Company) for decades.
—Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ornate
Cite this Entry
“Ornate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornate. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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