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deck 1 of 2

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
Elsewhere on board, cruisers will find world-class entertainment, luxurious pool decks, a grand piazza, a spectacular glass-domed gathering space and a three-story restaurant with views to the horizon. Mackenzie Schmidt, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025 The open-interior concept continues with a large main-deck salon, a full-beam primary suite, also on the main deck, and another salon on the flybridge. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
Art fans should save time for Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens on South Street, Zagar’s immersive indoor-outdoor mosaic space decked with tile, glass, mirrors, and found objects. Regan Stephens, AFAR Media, 14 Oct. 2025 One is of Hyland striking an elegant pose in a voluminous purple dress decked in glitter and rhinestones. Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck
Noun
  • Kate watched the service from the balcony of the overlooking Foreign Office building, though George did not attend, in keeping with past years.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The princess joined Queen Camilla to watch the somber proceedings from a balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), while King Charles led the country in a two-minute silence.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The images, never meant for public view, showed officers eating fruit, decorating Christmas trees, singing, relaxing with their dogs.
    Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
  • There’s something about decorating for Christmas that feels more momentous than decorating for the other holidays.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Picture yourself in a rocking chair on your wraparound porch, French doors wide open, and no clutter in sight.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
  • There, officers found the 32-year-old mother of four on the porch of a home.
    Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The celebration is necessary, considering HomeGoods conducted a survey that found 63 percent of people (among 1,000 early decorators and 500 non-early decorators) believe adorning your space early invites judgment.
    Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The facade is adorned with the brand’s signature cannage pattern, while inside there is Versailles parquet flooring similar to the Dior flagship at 30 Montaigne, the house’s historic address.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • With its numerous terraces and hanging gardens, the house flows organically down the slope to the scenic Pittwater waterway, creating a perfect harmony with the surrounding mature trees and natural shrubbery.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Variety first met Miñarro around 1994 at a dinner organized by Catalan Films on a Barcelona terrace overlooking the Mediterranean.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Made from recycled polyester and spandex, the crepe fabric has a waterfall effect that drapes oh-so-perfectly from the waist down.
    Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Zaful Women’s Sweater This tunic has drop shoulders and a side-split hem that drapes nicely over leggings for casual outings or dress pants for office days.
    Cheryl Wagemann, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Fears aired an alley-oop dunk to forward Carson Cooper on the next play, the first score of the second half, to trim Arkansas’ lead to 39-38.
    Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The key is to fold the scarf over itself to create volume and to look for a lace trim that leaves the hem frayed, so as not to look too formal.
    Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deck. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.

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