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
During morning hours, the boardwalk is perfect for scanning the beachfront for wildlife, while weekends bring complimentary wine and music on the rooftop deck. Jared Ranahan, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2025 Our deck of cards usually finds its way to reflection about death and meaning in an organic way. Rachel Martin, NPR, 31 July 2025
Verb
He was decked head to toe in yellow, blue and green, wore a yellow Brazil visor, and carried a yellow drum. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025 The pool decks fore and aft are expansive, dotted with lounges and exceptional sea views. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for deck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck
Noun
  • From artisan chocolate boutiques sculpting edible ships to sunrise balcony breakfasts curated by your personal white-gloved butler in your private ship-within-a-ship (more on that later)—Virtuosa offers a dreamlike escape served with effortless elegance.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • For views of the sparkling Atlantic Ocean form the comfort of your very own private balcony, book a room at the Marriott Hutchson Island Beach Resort, Golf & Marina.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The food containers are all decorated with whimsical illustrations, and the bag even features a crossword puzzle with McDonaldland trivia.
    Erin Clements, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Here's a helpful guide for all of your 2025 Idea House decorating inspiration.
    Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • After a report on a meeting of Bath County supervisors, in 2017, someone dumped manure in front of the local station’s porch, twice.
    Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2025
  • When Fort Worth campuses were closed during the COVID pandemic, Bennett, who lives near the school, tutored Briscoe students on her front porch.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The set comes with 60 lined stationery sheets and 30 matching envelopes, all adorned with 10 distinctive floral designs in soft pastel shades.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Executive education has also lured funds from another core Harvard constituency: billionaires with their names adorning a building.
    Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Wraparound terraces are staggered for privacy and shade, and a dramatic canyon cuts through the center of the building, where a 75-foot-long translucent acrylic pool bridges the gap between the rooftop terraces of the building’s north and south wings—Miami’s first of its kind.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Marcus will operate similar concepts, including hot and cold food options, a coffee counter and a terrace bar.
    Jordyn Noennig, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In fact, persistent cloud cover was draped across much of the Southeast and southern Appalachia on Saturday as a frontal system stretched across the region.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
  • His hair is bound in a taut knot, a cape of ti leaves in muted green draped over his broad shoulders.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • To see if your rose bush is dying or just dormant, trim a cane that looks dead and cut away some of the bark.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025
  • In the case of the plastic eel, trim the tail to a slim taper.
    Anthony A. Ciuffa, Outdoor Life, 7 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deck. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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