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
Perez has employees write memos, typically up to six pages long, instead of preparing slide decks or other materials ahead of meetings. Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 5 May 2025 Fix yourself a giant glass of sweet tea, and have an early cold plate supper on your front porch or back deck. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
Verb
The Polidori family arrived at McGregor Square in downtown Denver on the day of the April 4 Colorado Rockies home opener decked in team gear and jackets with the logo of their company, Polidori Sausage, stitched on the front. Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2025 It’s topped off by a residents-only rooftop deck with indoor and outdoor areas and a pool overlooking downtown. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck
Noun
  • They are seen pulling her out onto the balcony and punching her repeatedly.
    Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025
  • During the family's appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony, she was seen telling her little brother how to hold his arms as the national anthem played.
    Stephanie Petit, People.com, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Unlike typical vehicles, this car is designed to be decorated, and Blippi selects colors to personalize it.
    Annabelle Canela, Parents, 2 May 2025
  • Future chefs and home cooks will learn to cook, bake and decorate, all from scratch.
    Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • The short porch specialty followed a walk to the debuting Jorbit Vivas and a double from Aaron Judge, which knocked Rays starter Ryan Pepiot out of the game.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 3 May 2025
  • What to look for: Overhanging eaves, exposed rafter tiles, stone and wood porch supports and narrow casement windows.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • The inside collar is grey, mimicking the concrete interior structure of the Monster, and is adorned with 1912, the year Fenway Park first opened.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 16 May 2025
  • At the Fiesta Plaza neighborhood, the world's largest sombrero will adorn the Tipsy Sombrero Bar.
    Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • There’s also a rooftop terrace with an open-air cinema, and a private karaoke room for up to 10 people—for a fun night with the whole fam.
    Celeste Moure, AFAR Media, 2 May 2025
  • Floor-to-ceiling windows, large living and dining areas, and oversized terraces come from yachting’s current design trend to bring the outdoors inside.
    Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Scout went for an entirely different look in a medium brown georgette gown with a cowl neckline and draping that created a ruching effect across her waist.
    Catherine Santino, People.com, 13 May 2025
  • The younger brother would set up a table draped in a white cloth and recite prayers.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Porsche Germany's Porsche, which is majority-owned by the Volkswagen Group, trimmed its sales and profit margin forecasts, partially citing the impact of Trump's tariffs.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 1 May 2025
  • Hochul’s gimmick of mailing out $300 rebate checks to individuals and $500 for couples, a wasteful $3 billion vanity project favored by many running for reelection, was trimmed to $2 billion, with checks of $200 and $400.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deck. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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