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
Relevance
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
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 elaborate
Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Experiential gifts can range from inexpensive local activities to more elaborate travel, fitting any budget.
—Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
Now, over three hours in the sheriff’s office, Ryan elaborated.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Adjective
Orangutans sometimes spend weeks finding the necessary materials (wires, bolts, screws), hiding their elaborate preparations from their keepers, and awaiting the perfect moment to execute their plans.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Experiential gifts can range from inexpensive local activities to more elaborate travel, fitting any budget.
—Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
From tiny candy chandeliers to elaborate village scenes, no two challenges are the same.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
Now, over three hours in the sheriff’s office, Ryan elaborated.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate
Adjective
-
The Associated Press learned the identities of four of the men - and pieced together details about at least five others - who were slain, providing the first detailed account of those who died in the strikes.—
NPR,
NPR,
8 Nov. 2025
-
His views of their unconventional garments are painterly and romantic—expressionist evocations rather than detailed transcriptions of the clothes.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Before any surgery, patients undergo thorough medical and psychological evaluations to ensure readiness, both physically and emotionally.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police are conducting a thorough investigation with the assistance of multiple law enforcement partners.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Visharukh’s shrine to Khan is just one thread in an intricate tapestry of fandom.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Handmade in Japan, Akoni styles often feature titanium, plus proprietary hinges, screws, side shields, and adjustable temples that echo the intricate inner workings of timepieces.—
Naomi Rougeau,
Robb Report,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The vehicle reportedly sped into a shopping plaza, where the incident — captured on video — unfolded.—
Bonny Chu , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The Morant situation unfolded after the team's 117-112 loss to the Lakers, during which some perceived that the Grizzlies star displayed a lack of effort.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The flare suggests there are unknown populations of giant stars near the centers of large galaxies, which also host supermassive black holes — and sheds light on the complicated interactions between two behemoths.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
What unites them is Dern’s ability to find the humanity in characters navigating life’s most complicated terrain.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
All the company had emitted since Gates founded it in 1975 would be gone, the full footprint washed away.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
But even when Carr smashes a model boat to smithereens after a professional rejection or Allura imagines herself going full Lemonade on Chase’s sidepiece, their actions feel divorced from any larger context.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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 very nature of the connection between stars and their audience is now evolving, according to the IMDb report.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Trucking employs millions of drivers across the United States, and experts predict that job roles will evolve as fleets adopt autonomous systems.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elaborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share