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
She was secured to the boat at all times in a climbing harness that was attached to the deck. Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026 Watching birds go about their morning business at eye level from the rooftop deck was pretty spectacular, and even a midnight bathroom run was cinematic. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
Stylist Molly Dickson decked her out in logo-print boots, bag, trench coat, and, to top it all off, a headscarf that recalls Tippi Hedren in The Birds. Marci Robin, Allure, 6 Feb. 2026 When the man asked for his share of the craps proceeds, LaForte responded with screaming and violence, decking the man in the face and giving him a black eye, according to court filings. John Annese, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck
Noun
  • Suites with interconnecting doors across the balcony are a great choice for larger families, and most regular activities include child-friendly options, like the beginner’s surfing classes in calmer waves or toddler bikes for cycling along the nature reserve.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026
  • In 1968, Jackson gained national prominence after King was assassinated on a motel balcony.
    Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The parades are organized by elite and mysterious krewes that spend months preparing for the holiday, decorating their floats and selecting those who get to ride on them.
    Carlie Procell, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
  • In the main Mountain House, there are standard rooms either decorated in a Victorian or Classic style, as well as options to book a Tower room with an additional living area.
    Katie Mathews, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Authorities say her blood was found on the front porch.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
  • In March, 2024, the couple was sitting on their porch, in Portland, Oregon, when a burglar, who was trying to break into a truck across the street, threatened them at gunpoint.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Some have been completely worn down with obscurity over time; others appear to be washed and adorned with fresh flowers on a weekly basis.
    Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Planted orchid arrangements, from Orchids by Hausermann in Illinois, will adorn the tables.
    Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Almost all of them include whirlpool baths on their terraces; those that don’t instead have semi-private pools just a few steps from the bed.
    José Cantillo Ferrer, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Galleries devoted to world cultures, rotating contemporary exhibitions and sweeping public terraces overlooking the Spree position the institution as both museum and gathering place.
    Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Lastly, some members of the mainstream media’s reports on the violent anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis have been draped in gross mischaracterizations and gaping omissions.
    Michael Zais, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Mix and match them in hanging pots or window boxes, which display their draping forms to best advantage.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The micro-style, trimmed with frills along the back, quickly found its way onto creator Devon Lee Carlson and rap artist Sexy Redd at Coachella, before subsequently selling out on the brand’s site.
    Amy Francombe, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Where Frederick Wiseman’s attention is analytical and the Maysles brothers’ attention is dramatic, Depardon’s is a tree trunk—blunt, rough, heavy, a raw thing to hew that keeps its rings of history even after shaping and trimming.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deck. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.

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