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
In the middle, there’s the bathroom volume, which has a flat roof that doubles as a sun deck and is accessible via the study mezzanine above the living space. New Atlas, 3 July 2026 This includes maintaining areas of concern by removing piles of debris, keeping your grass short, and sealing small gaps under houses and decks. Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 3 July 2026
Verb
Coach Javier Aguirre’s third stint has sparked World Cup fever, with Mexico City streets and even pets decked in Mexico gear. Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Weeks later, Kennedy modeled good beef-eating behavior, posing for a pic on his 72nd birthday while tucking in to a bone-in steak decked out with candles. David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for deck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck
Noun
  • Tragedy struck the One Direction legacy when Liam Payne died in October 2024 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
    Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • The 52-foot stand features shatterproof bulbs that cast a warm, Edison-style glow, instantly cozying up patios, balconies, pergolas, and outdoor dining setups.
    Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • This disaccharide is found decorating the cells of nonprimate mammals, including cows and pigs, but it’s also released in the saliva of ticks, particularly the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum).
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026
  • The Cafe Orleans trees are decorated with seasonal decor during the Mardi Gras season.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • On the Fourth of July, Evaniel Johnson said his family had gathered on his back porch in Nashville to play cards.
    TRAVIS LOLLER, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • The porch provides shelter from the elements and frames views of the water and the ruins of an old masonry boathouse that dominate the vista.
    Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • He was surrounded by beige pleather armchairs gathered around low tables adorned with silk flowers.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • While male figures adorn the bills, recent years have seen the signatures of powerful women like Janet Yellen, Lynn Malerba, Azie Taylor Morton, and Rosa Gumataotao Rios quietly circulate on trillions of dollars.
    Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • There is also a terrace with firepits off the main building for long, restful evenings spent reminiscing over a drink.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • Another highlight is the aft cockpit, which is equipped with two swing-down side terraces that open to increase the deck space to 398 square feet.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • The body was placed in a casket draped in the Islamic Republic’s flag and encased in glass.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
  • Kyle O’Neill, who lives in Natomas and was draped in an American flag, didn’t leave early.
    Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Verb
  • That includes a bath with breed-appropriate shampoo, a blow-dry and brush-out, a haircut or trim based on breed and preference, nail clipping and filing, ear cleaning and eye area cleaning.
    Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • At 14 songs and 62 minutes, the album would have benefited from trimming three or four of the more generic tunes.
    Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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