deck 1 of 2

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

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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
Seal cracks and gaps near windows, decks, and eaves, and fill holes in the yard to close off potential entry points. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 May 2026 Over the last year, Rivera also has been involved with a nonprofit called Vibrant LA, according to a slide deck presented by the group and reviewed by The Times. David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
Verb
In a week that would see stars like Alicia Keys, Kendall Jenner, and David Beckham come through town to sit front row, Pulisic arrives on a scooter to a golf-club lounge near the airport, decked out in comfy, and not exactly couture, apparel. Sean Gregory, Time, 7 May 2026 In the movie, Weaver gets decked out in an X-wing fighter jumpsuit – the legendary orange number worn by Hamill back in the day – and gets to pilot a starship. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for deck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck
Noun
  • Large British and American flags, held by honor guard members, are lining the stairs of the White House that lead up from the residential entrance to the Truman balcony.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The incident occurred on the Carnival Firenze, which was off the Southern California coast when the female guest went over the balcony of her stateroom and landed on a lower deck, the cruise line confirmed to Fox News Digital.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Cakes big and small are the ideal stage for your wildest decorating dreams.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Each of the suites are decorated with the same Mediterranean style and have private patios and balconies perfect for watching the sunset.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • He was found a short time later under a porch nearby, still nude with his hospital gown and a 10mm handgun, prosecutors said.
    Darius Johnson, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Try combining several varieties with similar needs, and experiment to find the best mix for your porch or patio.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The rare flower is known to add luck and happiness to those who adorn their space with its fortune, which is why the water bearer is the ideal sign to align with it.
    Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
  • Tall spikes adorned with small, tubular flowers bloom during summer with a second wave later on, and some varieties rebloom from spring through fall.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • The restaurant, which also has locations in Saint-Tropez, Paris, Dubai, Rome and Bodrum, has indoor and terrace seating, with poolside tables, beach cabanas, sunbeds and a store.
    Connie Ogle May 8, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026
  • Surrounded by mature trees, dense greenery, and high walls, the grounds create a private, park-like idyll with sloping lawns, spacious terraces, and views toward the Hollywood Hills and Griffith Park Observatory, with a swimming pool at the center of the estate.
    Mark David, Robb Report, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • Librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte (Enyi Okoronkwo) is promoted to chief fellow party animal and tempter, showing up at Mozart’s door draped in women.
    Robert Lloyd, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
  • German troops entered Vienna on March 12, 1938, five months after Heidi was born; within a day, the city had been draped in swastikas.
    Nicholas Dawidoff, New Yorker, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Brian Kemp signs 34 bills, trimming his backlog with days left to act on this year’s legislation.
    Adam Beam, AJC.com, 6 May 2026
  • Ridestore subjects materials to failure testing during both development and production, evaluating bond strength in laminated membranes, water-repellency performance and trim durability before materials move into manufacturing.
    Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 6 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deck. Accessed 12 May. 2026.

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