Definition of decknext
as in balcony
a flat roofless structure attached to a building the family usually ate on the deck on summer evenings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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deck

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word deck different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of deck are adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish, garnish, and ornament. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

When can adorn be used instead of deck?

In some situations, the words adorn and deck are roughly equivalent. However, adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself.

a diamond necklace adorned her neck

How are the words beautify and embellish related as synonyms of deck?

Beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

When could decorate be used to replace deck?

The meanings of decorate and deck largely overlap; however, decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

When is embellish a more appropriate choice than deck?

The synonyms embellish and deck are sometimes interchangeable, but embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

Where would garnish be a reasonable alternative to deck?

While the synonyms garnish and deck are close in meaning, garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.

an entrée garnished with parsley

How do ornament and embellish relate to one another, in the sense of deck?

Both ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original.

a white house ornamented with green shutters

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deck
Noun
According to Smithsonian Magazine, Sylvia Plath used the Tarot de Marseille deck, which her husband, Ted Hughes, gifted her on her 24th birthday in 1956. Literary Hub, 24 July 2026 Flow charts and decks created in headquarters are more likely to mask what’s really going on. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 24 July 2026
Verb
The singer rocked a stylish Fourth of July bikini underneath a onesie, both decked in red, white and blue. Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 All of the comfortable rooms were recently renovated and are decked with blackout curtains. Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for deck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck
Noun
  • An upstairs primary suite features a cathedral ceiling, a private balcony, the aforementioned walk-in closet, and a deluxe bath with an oversized walk-in shower.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 25 July 2026
  • The 287 rooms and suites feature soothing neutral tones, deep soaking tubs, and, in many cases, private balconies overlooking the Atlantic Ocean or the Miami skyline.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2026
Verb
  • Rupnik had been one of the most celebrated contemporary religious artists in the Catholic Church, designing stylized mosaics that decorate churches and basilicas around the world, including at Lourdes and the Vatican.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
  • Behind the two men is an antique-style table with dragons decorating the legs, upon which sit two porcelain bird statues and a small pot filled with purple and white flowers.
    Ben Jureidini, Vanity Fair, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • This 2021 lodge-style home near the coast in the Lowcountry has a studio accessory dwelling unit (ADU) above a carriage-house garage with a covered front porch, wood floors, a full bath, and a galley kitchen.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 27 July 2026
  • The caller, according to a recording of police radio transmissions obtained by WLS, said a neighbor was shot on a porch along with a woman.
    Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 26 July 2026
Verb
  • Think slip-ons with rivets or studs, flats adorned with pearls, or sneakers with dainty floral embroidery.
    Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026
  • Its ears, tall and adorned with turquoise paint, are as big as the couple standing beside me, admiring it.
    Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 July 2026
Noun
  • Offering views of the Hollywood Hills via floor-to-ceiling windows and a 1,600-square-foot terrace, Damon’s pad has two bedrooms and two bathrooms across its 2,600 square feet.
    Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 24 July 2026
  • There will also be a hostel and multiple garden terraces, including a rooftop garden.
    Adam Williams July 24, New Atlas, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • Cox then walked into frame wearing a light pink bathrobe before draping her dark hair over Aniston’s head.
    Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
  • Tahiliani staged a brief presentation with models in his latest designs — the most standout being a series of gowns with foam corsets that mimicked the human torso, draped with fabrics in the same color.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • This is not the type of trimming that other franchises in the same payroll stratosphere have undergone in recent seasons.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Higher jet fuel costs lead to costlier flights Since the war began, airlines have responded to the jump in fuel costs by raising fares and add-on fees, and trimming flights or routes that are no longer profitable at higher fuel prices.
    Cathy Bussewitz, Fortune, 24 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deck. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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