1
as in detailed
made or done with great care or with much detail
elaborate festivities for the 200th anniversary of the town's founding
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thorough
including many small descriptive features
the elaborate world known as Middle Earth that J.R.R. Tolkien created in his richly imagined novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intricate
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated
plans for a huge mall that will actually be an elaborate center for sports, entertainment, and shopping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elaborate
Sarah Rodman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
The annual Fanti Carnival saw elaborate processions with participants dressed in vibrant costumes, musical and masquerade performances, and dancing stilt walkers.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
The official did not elaborate on what those were but suggested that a reduction in funding for NATO was one of them.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Adjective
As Lindy and Les battle each other in increasingly elaborate ways, the question of whether audiences should root for them becomes part of the fun — and the challenge.
—Sarah Rodman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
The annual Fanti Carnival saw elaborate processions with participants dressed in vibrant costumes, musical and masquerade performances, and dancing stilt walkers.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
Unlike Apollo, which focused on fast flags and footprints in a breakneck race against the Soviet Union, Artemis is striving for a sustainable moon base elaborate enough to satisfy even the most hard-core science fiction fans.
—Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
The official did not elaborate on what those were but suggested that a reduction in funding for NATO was one of them.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate
Adjective
-
More smart scales are now including a handlebar to provide detailed insights into fat and muscle distribution across different parts of the body.—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The detailed biographies of every correspondent make, in themselves, a whole picture of the cultural and political life of the early twentieth century.—
Hermione Lee,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Those needs are likely to mean a more thorough dive into the transfer portal and additional exploration of the Canadian major junior leagues — two areas where Motzko’s program did not play very often.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Not just a quick pass with a vacuum, but a real, thorough clean — especially when the seasons change.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The mandolins weave intricate patterns together, in counterpoint or unison.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
All the intricate meetings and rolling knolls, all the reliable critiques of the kids today, have left this former student in the ranking spirit.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This newsroom-wide project brings fast facts as stories unfold — making sure our local officials and institutions are telling the truth, serving our communities well and following through on their promises.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
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Others find their true calling much earlier in life—but few can top Logan Brown, a legal AI entrepreneur who watched court cases unfold before her recess days were over.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And in South Florida groups have stepped in to support migrants navigating complicated immigration processes, from deportation to self-deportation, often filling gaps left by government systems.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
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But determining what percentage of the population would stay and fight is complicated.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The car was full of suitcases, and his father was sitting in the front seat, scrolling on his phone.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Wiseman, Glover, Koch and Hansen were launched Wednesday and, after spending a full day checking out the Orion spacecraft, the ship left Earth orbit Thursday and headed for the moon.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These are common but complicate long-term planning for federal agencies.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Despite differing views on a variety of security issues, the group, like Gilpatric’s, reached a clear consensus: nuclear proliferation by any additional country would diminish U.S. power, complicate strategic planning, and increase the likelihood of nuclear use, accidents, and disasters.—
MARIANO-FLORENTINO CUÉLLAR,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But the public was receptive, and Magyar quickly evolved into a formal opposition leader, accepting the helm of the Tisza Party—founded in 2020—as a vehicle for his movement.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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Over the last decade, especially after the pandemic, the field of health care advocacy has evolved to encompass various services that help patients and families navigate the complicated, expensive medical landscape.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elaborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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