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

Relevance

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
Likewise, gliding into Mediterranean ports such as Dubrovnik, Croatia, Kotor, Montenegro, and Palma de Mallorca and not having to jockey for a view from the top deck is priceless. Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026 Travel advisor Shannon Jones, founder of family travel brand KeeKee’s Big Adventures, recommends heading to the upper deck after dark, too. Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
Evoke the spirit of Nantucket with a table decked in nautical blues and white. Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026 Its vessels would be sexy and sleek, cabins outfitted with red hammocks and decks child-free. Jp Brammer, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for deck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck
Noun
  • Dial up the charm by booking one of the ocean-facing rooms or suites; better yet, snag one with a balcony and private hot tub.
    Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Accessibility The hotel includes two accessible rooms, each with a king bed, roll-in shower, and private balcony.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Reproductions are selling for up to $250 online, and the fixtures have become part of a larger vintage lighting revival that’s reshaping how people decorate their homes.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The skull is decorated with turquoise, quartz and jadeite, applied in a mosaic-like tesserae that forms a snake design.
    News Desk, Artforum, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Rocking chairs and porches further add to the homey ambiance, while complimentary bikes give you wheels to explore the area.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Members of the online group began dropping off cardboard and vases on her porch.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Maybe she was meant to adorn someone else for some other occasion.
    Asha Iyer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Located in downtown Las Cruces, this hotel features 203 guest rooms—some offering city or mountain views—adorned in rustic Spanish Colonial decor and local artwork.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Neighbors come to hang out on the sunlit terrace overlooking the ocean with the dramatic mountains behind.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Forty-five minutes in front of a Croke Park terrace rammed with Leeds supporters, less than a week after becoming the club’s most expensive transfer in history, also gave him an unsubtle insight into the reaction.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In a long warehouse in Kandahar’s Zhari district, fans whirl overhead, stirring the hot summer air around bunches of plump, green grapes draped over sticks set up in rows to dry.
    ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Towering live oaks draped with Spanish moss lined the neighborhood, casting long shadows across the pavement as the sun began to set.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The machine is programmed in advance, allowing landscapers to complete other tasks, such as trimming and cleanup, while the mower cuts the grass.
    Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Tempo trimmed the deficit to four points in the final minute, but Bueckers hit a jumper to get the lead back to six before Isabelle Harrison was called for a charge.
    CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deck. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on deck

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster