1
: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style
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
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
With beautifully ornate, centuries-old buildings as lovely as its serene shores and national parks, Thailand offers more Instagram-worthy photo opportunities than an old roll of film could ever handle.
—Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Choose from smaller wreaths to larger, more ornate options that will fit every home or doorway.
—Alida Nugent, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
In addition, plenty of the home’s period elements remain intact, including ornate molding and decorative wainscoting.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024
The weeklong meetings are being held at the cavernous, ornate Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square.
—NBC News, 5 Mar. 2024
Premier Li Qiang is expected to announce an official economic growth target when the National People’s Congress convenes Tuesday in Beijing’s ornate Great Hall of the People.
—Dake Kang and Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024
Many original design elements remain, including tiling in the dining and living rooms, restored crown moldings, soft archways, and ornate fireplaces.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2024
But, the object turned out to be something extraordinary indeed: the fractured remains of a 2,000-year-old Roman cavalry helmet decorated with ornate patterns of silver and gold.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024
All roads lead to the harbor, crowned by the extravagantly ornate Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria.
—Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Choose from smaller wreaths to larger, more ornate options that will fit every home or doorway.
—Alida Nugent, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
In addition, plenty of the home’s period elements remain intact, including ornate molding and decorative wainscoting.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024
The weeklong meetings are being held at the cavernous, ornate Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square.
—NBC News, 5 Mar. 2024
Premier Li Qiang is expected to announce an official economic growth target when the National People’s Congress convenes Tuesday in Beijing’s ornate Great Hall of the People.
—Dake Kang and Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024
Many original design elements remain, including tiling in the dining and living rooms, restored crown moldings, soft archways, and ornate fireplaces.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2024
But, the object turned out to be something extraordinary indeed: the fractured remains of a 2,000-year-old Roman cavalry helmet decorated with ornate patterns of silver and gold.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024
All roads lead to the harbor, crowned by the extravagantly ornate Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria.
—Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ornate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ornate
Cite this Entry
“Ornate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornate. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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