as in decoration
small objects that are used for decoration and are not usually valuable
shelves full of bric-a-brac
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Recent Examples of bric-a-brac
The 17-minute short is also animation art of the highest order, seen in the extraordinary bric-a-brac detail of a pawnshop, lending it an immersive authenticity.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
Afternoons are whiled away at the local market and spent getting lost amidst antiques and books in the various shops filled with fascinating bric-a-brac.
—Lucy Bruton, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Dec. 2025
Isabella Stewart Gardner sometimes rented the Palazzo Barbaro, using it as a base to collect the art, furniture, and medieval bric-a-brac that eventually found its way to her eponymous Boston museum.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2025
Kids run to and from the small arcade area, somehow managing to not knock over all the bric-a-brac that serves as decor, including a suit of armor near the restrooms.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2025
Cracker Barrel’s decor harkens back to a time of family restaurants with bric-a-brac covering the walls.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Uncle Herschel is back, but his bric-a-brac may stay in the landfill.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025
Countless bric-a-brac has been pulled from the shipwreck in the decades since, but on July 13, divers with Atlantic Wreck Salvage found something significant: a compass from the bridge.
—Mark Price
july 29, Miami Herald, 29 July 2025
There are stickers covering every inch of space, and bric-a-brac, too, but nothing is picayune — nothing feels arbitrary or fake.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2025
John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
Afternoons are whiled away at the local market and spent getting lost amidst antiques and books in the various shops filled with fascinating bric-a-brac.
—Lucy Bruton, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Dec. 2025
Isabella Stewart Gardner sometimes rented the Palazzo Barbaro, using it as a base to collect the art, furniture, and medieval bric-a-brac that eventually found its way to her eponymous Boston museum.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2025
Kids run to and from the small arcade area, somehow managing to not knock over all the bric-a-brac that serves as decor, including a suit of armor near the restrooms.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2025
Cracker Barrel’s decor harkens back to a time of family restaurants with bric-a-brac covering the walls.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Uncle Herschel is back, but his bric-a-brac may stay in the landfill.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025
Countless bric-a-brac has been pulled from the shipwreck in the decades since, but on July 13, divers with Atlantic Wreck Salvage found something significant: a compass from the bridge.
—Mark Price
july 29, Miami Herald, 29 July 2025
There are stickers covering every inch of space, and bric-a-brac, too, but nothing is picayune — nothing feels arbitrary or fake.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bric-a-brac
Noun
-
The edifice boasts an abundance of sculpted decoration, while its grand staircase echoes Michelangelo’s design for the Laurentian Library in Florence.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Throughout the home, there has been an obvious attention to detail and decoration.—
Helen I. Bennett,
Hartford Courant,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Architects, playing off each others’ designs, have developed a form of architectural ornamentation, or art form, unique to downtown Fort Lauderdale.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Most of the space is dimly lit, with spotlights that accentuate Thomas’s signature strass ornamentation—liberally applied not only to the outlines of her Black female figures, but also to their ruby-red lips, lustrous hair, the lines between their toes, and the surrounding decorative patterns.—
Amy Verner,
Vogue,
20 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
After removing ornaments and dusting your tree, go ahead and dismantle it.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Four Freedoms Roosevelt named were not rhetorical ornaments offered as inspiration so much as a diagnosis.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The eco-steward award will be accepted by Nathaniel Sponsler, director of AFIRM Group, the global association of the world’s leading apparel and footwear companies.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Teen apparel retailers — Abercrombie & Fitch , Urban Outfitters and American Eagle all slid after the companies preannounced holiday results.—
Christina Cheddar Berk,Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Also known as Texas sheet cake, these brownies get their tang from buttermilk, which is also the secret ingredient to the smooth and just-sweet-enough frosting.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
-
As soon as it’s known that mom has baked something that involves chocolate or frosting, there’s a jockeying for position to see who gets to lick the bowl.—
Caleb Harris,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Statement textures, like fringe, pleating, embroidery, crochet, and subtle ruching, bring interest through movement and dimension rather than color or pattern.—
Gabrielle Porcaro,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Apparel includes the Puffed Brixton track jacket and Dayton pullover, each featuring a special embroidery execution.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Bieber’s matching barely-there thong was connected to it through a web of black strings on her stomach, showing off her abs and highlighting a pink bow adornment in the center.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The team also said the grave was unusual for its small circular shell beads, which served as personal adornments.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Trees must be clean of wooden stands, watering bowls, ornaments, lights, wires, string and any other festive finery.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
26 Dec. 2025
-
Admire the Queen Anne and Italianate architecture, including original staircases, fireplace mantles and woodwork, and see these homes bedecked in their best holiday finery.—
Rasputin Todd,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bric-a-brac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bric-a-brac. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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