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
Crowe leaped from the boat with a fishing gaff and, after several fumbles, managed to flip the trembling, bloodied creature onto the bow deck. Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 Any room categorized as a suite grants access to dedicated areas at the top of the ship, including the exclusive Coastal Kitchen and The Grove sun deck. Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 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
  • The Laurium suite is the only room with balcony access and has a presidential history.
    Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Others contain heavy metal doors, with pull-down handles, opening onto side decks that were once used by sailors to move around the ship but now are subdivided into private, sea view balconies.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Country Music Hall of Fame member Minnie Pearl's straw hat, decorated with cloth flowers and dangling $1.98 price tag, worn at her Opry debut in 1940.
    Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Sharing decorations with your family or others could be a great way to get them in the hands of people who are starting their decorating journey.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Pascal, for his part, filibusters and doesn’t answer the question, apart from muttering about the porch scene, Bella and Kaitlyn.
    The Deadline Team, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Back in front, the original portion of the house with its soaring columned portico and front porch entry has been updated to seamlessly blend with a new modern addition at the rear.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The drink is poured in a special cup adorned with the names of past US Open champions.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Six bedrooms and 10 baths are filtered across roughly 11,700 square feet, all of it adorned with antique heart pine floors, wavy glass windows, period fixtures, designer lighting, and numerous fireplaces, along with modern conveniences like smart-home technology and an elevator.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The event will take place on the marine terrace of the hotel.
    Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Enjoy your bountiful dinner on their panoramic terrace and make sure to leave a little time before or after your meal to explore the exquisite grounds of the property.
    Rana Good, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The service was held at Chapel of the Chimes, where members of the Oakland Police Department Honor Guard stood posted at both ends of the coffin and a U.S. Army sergeant presented the American flag that had draped his casket to his family.
    Harry Harris, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Instead, lean into timelessness and practicality with ankle-length or shorter silhouettes tailored from crepe and wool or draped from more fluid materials like silk.
    Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • When to Seek Professional Help Dr. Oliver says that most causes of hair breakage can be treated with the right products, regular hair trims, and minimizing grooming and styling practices that are harsh on strands.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2025
  • The firm downgraded the Chinese electric vehicle stock to market perform from outperform on Tuesday, and trimmed its price target to $26 per share from $33.
    Brian Evans, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deck. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.

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