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
Patrons select two cards from the splayed out deck, and each card corresponds with a different flavor. Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2025 The Japanese Netflix series first debuted in 2020, adapting Haro Aso's manga series about a parallel version of Tokyo where a series of games — represented by a suit in a deck of playing cards — unfold with life-or-death stakes for the players. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
Thousands sojourn to New York City's Coney Island for the Annual Mermaid Parade, decked in aquatic apparel. Time, 8 Sep. 2025 The chart-topping artist, who doubles as a Pandora brand ambassador, further decked her wrist with stacks from the brand. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck
Noun
  • In another clip, the Florida star is out of the hospital and atop a balcony rapping the lyrics once again.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Concertgoers fluttered around the building, staying away from the barricaded stairs leading up to the upstairs balcony, which is inaccessible.
    Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Hollywood Walk of Fame takes up the sidewalk outside Kimmel's venue, with names as diverse as Roy Disney, Eva Longoria, Kelly Ripa, Paul Rudd and Chris Pratt decorating the pavement.
    Sarah Whitten,Gabriel Cortés, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The home theater rooms featured here—from the chic sanctuary in Ralph Lauren’s Colorado residence to an upstairs film retreat in the US Virgin Islands—are decorated just as thoughtfully as any other room in the house.
    Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Way to Celebrate Pumpkin Outdoor Coir Mat I’m all about curb appeal, and come fall, my favorite thing to do is adorn my front porch with colorful, vibrant mums, hay bales, scarecrows, and other seasonal decor.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
  • In addition to pumpkins flanking your front door, an autumnal wreath is a great low-lift way to add a festive touch to your porch or entryway.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • From the cool, dank blue-gray tones of Maria’s basement to the clever signage that adorns the schoolroom walls, the production mechanics work to pull viewers further into this high stakes character study.
    Holly Jones, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Thug has managed to find a way to push the envelope all these years later with Uy Scuti, adorning a Druski-esque whiteface that reads as a somewhat subversive take on the current moment’s politics.
    Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There’s a kitchenette stocked with a Nespresso machine, a deep soaking bathtub for relaxation, and sweet outdoor terrace perfect for watching the sunset or indulging in happy hour.
    Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 23 Sep. 2025
  • That space comes with his and hers dressing rooms and bathrooms, a private office, and a private terrace—as well as one of those pools.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Across from them was a long row of chairs draped in Israeli flags with photos of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
    Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 21 Sep. 2025
  • At the beginning of the second quarter, Egbuka's talents were on full display, coming down with an absurd one-handed catch with Jets star cornerback Sauce Gardner draped all over him for a 30-yard gain.
    Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The central bank last trimmed the key lending rates by 10 basis points in May as part of Beijing’s efforts to shore up its economy.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Most boxwoods are relatively slow growing and easy to trim.
    Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deck. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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