as in ornamentation
something that decorates or beautifies
the only adornment in the sparely furnished bedroom was a small portrait of the poet Walt Whitman
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Recent Examples of adornment
Among the Early Iron Age finds were a large pendant, brooches, and a decorative metal disc, often used as a military adornment.
—
Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2025
Initially used as an adornment rather than a means of trade, gold was mainly reserved for prestige and religious purposes.
—Gabriel O. Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025
The adornments cover the entire bodice and torso, as well as sprinkled down the length of the piece.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Its only adornment was a framed picture of Mazen, the same one that had been on the handbills.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adornment
Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2025
Initially used as an adornment rather than a means of trade, gold was mainly reserved for prestige and religious purposes.
—Gabriel O. Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025
The adornments cover the entire bodice and torso, as well as sprinkled down the length of the piece.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Its only adornment was a framed picture of Mazen, the same one that had been on the handbills.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adornment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adornment
Noun
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Across the 20th century, a constellation of Black intellectuals and artists approached fashion not merely as ornamentation but as ontology.—
Achille Tenkiang,
Vogue,
24 Apr. 2025
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This shift into ornamentation seems like a natural progression, particularly for Black designers as the Black home is rich in history, aesthetics, and storytelling.—
Kerane Marcellus,
Essence,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Florida resident reportedly traveled to Washington, D.C., with Trump on Air Force One to assist with the decorations.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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The second-biggest exporter of Christmas decorations to the US is Cambodia, where factory wages are even lower than China, but Trump also imposed 49% tariffs on the small Southeast Asian nation, before the recent 90-day pause.—
Marc Stewart,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Isabelle McCalla gives an endearing, heartfelt and sometimes tearful performance as Elinor, who sings poignantly about her desire to be more useful in society than just a child-bearing ornament.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
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The species’s presence in the U.K. dates back at least two hundred and fifty thousand years, and has inspired whimsical reverence—badgers appear across children’s literature and cartoons, on holiday ornaments, and as beloved mascots—and extreme loathing.—
Anna Russell,
The New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Adornment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adornment. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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