Synonym Chooser

How is the word decorate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of decorate are adorn, beautify, deck, embellish, garnish, and ornament. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

When might adorn be a better fit than decorate?

The synonyms adorn and decorate are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 decorate?

Beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

When can deck be used instead of decorate?

Although the words deck and decorate have much in common, deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

When would embellish be a good substitute for decorate?

The words embellish and decorate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

Where would garnish be a reasonable alternative to decorate?

While in some cases nearly identical to decorate, 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 decorate?

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 decorate Then comes the multi-course banquet at St George’s Hall, complete with toasts and speeches, beneath a ceiling decorated with the coats of arms of every single Knight of the Garter since the order was founded in the 14th century. Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025 In the years to follow, food pyramids decorated countless classrooms, and America's war on saturated fats was upon us. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025 That aspect alone felt apt for The Wilderness, but there’s also the particularities of how the spaces are decorated, and the layering of styles, textures, and time periods as suggested by the collage effect itself. Jane Ciabattari september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025 From deciding how to decorate your house with frightfully tasteful touches to picking out the best candy, there’s plenty to do before October 31. Ella Cerón, Parents, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decorate
Verb
  • Dainty gold buckles adorn the soft suede straps that will hold your feet firmly in place, and the square toe design offers room for your toes to sit comfortably without feeling squished.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The father-son duo both towered over Hargitay, adorning casual clothing in snaps taken from their visit.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Threshold Chenille Throw Blanket Measuring 50 by 70 inches, the throw is large enough to drape across a sofa, bed, or an accent chair to add texture to a room while compact enough to fold up and take with you.
    Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
  • But Franc Fernandez, the designer of the dress that is today on display at the Park MGM in Las Vegas, had worked three long days to create it, draping butcher cuts on a mannequin torso.
    Steve Knopper, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decorate. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on decorate

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