ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

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)

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

The ballroom will also feature gold chandeliers, an ornate coffered ceiling, Greek Corinthian columns and tall, arched windows on each wall, in addition to room for a number of round tables and gold chairs. —Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025

Footage from museum cameras showed that the two who broke into the ornate Apollo Gallery used grinders to cut into jewelry display cases. —CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025

This ornate cotton set is just $119. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025

The Ubirajara’s ornate, ribbon-like display feathers projecting from its shoulders and a distinctive mane-like covering along its back – the first such structures found in a non-avian dinosaur from South America. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025

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