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
Small, independent merchants don’t offer the bric-a-brac of Christmas baubles of embroidered kilts found in nearby (and more touristy) Pitlochry, but instead opt for used books at The Birnam Reader, artisanal cheeses and baked goods at Aran Bakery, and small-batch gin at LÒN.
—
Timothy Latterner, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Feb. 2026
Chipotle arrived like a lightning bolt in 1993, bringing its approximation of Mexican food and an industrial, minimalist aesthetic to a fast-food scene cluttered with bric-a-brac and cartoony maximalism.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 12 Feb. 2026
Jungle Bird sports a beach club motif with a thatched roof palapa over the bar and cozy nooks adorned with grasscloth walls and tropical bric-a-brac.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Through the exhibit, the building is allowed to show its skin: Walls are plastered but unpainted, and the basement is stuffed with bric-a-brac accumulated during its long, colorful history.
—Will Fenstermaker, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Among the bric-a-brac was a large collection of hats—baseball caps, wide-brimmed straw hats, an Indigenous headdress with green and red parrot feathers.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
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
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
Timothy Latterner, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Feb. 2026
Chipotle arrived like a lightning bolt in 1993, bringing its approximation of Mexican food and an industrial, minimalist aesthetic to a fast-food scene cluttered with bric-a-brac and cartoony maximalism.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 12 Feb. 2026
Jungle Bird sports a beach club motif with a thatched roof palapa over the bar and cozy nooks adorned with grasscloth walls and tropical bric-a-brac.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Through the exhibit, the building is allowed to show its skin: Walls are plastered but unpainted, and the basement is stuffed with bric-a-brac accumulated during its long, colorful history.
—Will Fenstermaker, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Among the bric-a-brac was a large collection of hats—baseball caps, wide-brimmed straw hats, an Indigenous headdress with green and red parrot feathers.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bric-a-brac
Noun
-
The most elaborate of these suites spanned the top floors of houses and were filled with thoughtful decorations and toys.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Throughout the procession, tributes to the Year of the Horse appeared in many forms, including school mascots, papier-mâché horse heads and inflatable decorations.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His photographs vibrate with the excess of their ornamentation, with an audacity of presence that exceeds the realm of the emblematic.—
Zoë Hopkins,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Its tapered legs and subtle ornamentation give it an old world quality that still looks right at home in a contemporary designscape.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Putting up the Christmas tree last year with ornaments Ryan and his sister made was tough, Gary said.—
Emma Hurt,
AJC.com,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Photo renderings of the hotel show windows shaped like Tetris blocks and a red three-pronged ornament along the main tower designed to resemble the Atari logo.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Uhrman is co-founder and CEO of NWSL club Angel City FC, while Kelley joins USA Rugby with experience in sports marketing and brand development across athletic footwear and apparel, gaming, retail and media.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The tariffs dealt a blow to a large swath of businesses in Southern California and across the state, including farmers, automakers, home builders, tech companies and apparel retailers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Enhancing the Tropical Flavor One solution that customers love is adding a layer of coconut flakes on top of the frosting.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Once the frosting is frozen, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and place the cake back in the freezer to store.—
Molly Allen,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Inspired by her graphic use of embellishment and appliqués, Smith began beading, swapping his signature painterly fabric daubs with vintage glass bead embroidery.—
Violet Goldstone,
Footwear News,
20 Feb. 2026
-
A little cardigan with gilded embroidery, some roomy corduroy trousers, and fabulously frumpy silk frocks.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With the world seemingly hell-bent on her failure, indulging in the vanities of self-adornment is of little importance to Linda.—
Daniel Rodgers,
Vogue,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Perhaps that’s because modern architecture rarely has the kind of adornments that might prompt a builder to consider including a Chicago Municipal Device somewhere in the external design.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Guests, including model Isobel Richmond, ballet dancer Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Lady Amelia Windsor, showed up in full McDowell finery to support.—
Violet Goldstone,
Footwear News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Because pretty much everywhere else but the Kennedy Center on this frigid winter night, the country was more focused on fury than finery.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bric-a-brac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bric-a-brac. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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