elaborate 1 of 2

adjective

i-ˈla-b(ə-)rət How to pronounce elaborate (audio)
Definition of elaboratenext
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

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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

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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

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elaborate

2 of 2

verb

i-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt How to pronounce elaborate (audio)
as in to unfold
to gradually become clearer or more detailed as mankind's understanding of the universe has elaborated

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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
Adjective
And, of course, action abounds, culminating in an elaborate climactic battle sequence in which Alexandra’s coyote forces are commanded by the rabidly loyal Maksim, memorably voiced by Tom Waits. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2026 In the show, the crew encounters a white hole spewing time and space into the universe, and the only way to close it is for Lister to play space pool, sinking a planet into the interdimensional fissure via an over-elaborate trick shot. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
Jennifer De Angelo Baxter, a Virginia public school teacher, handcrafts elaborate creations while managing her rare condition. — Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026 Guadagnino elaborated on his feelings about AI during the Q&A. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate
  1. detailed
  2. thorough
  3. intricate
  4. unfold
  5. complicated
  6. full
  7. complicate
  8. evolve
Adjective
  • While Motor Decide helps identify the best motor technology pathway, Motor AI performs the detailed motor design work needed to bring those concepts to life, according to a press release.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • During evidence on Wednesday, Riel Karmy-Jones, the prosecution barrister, detailed allegations made by a total of six women, which have precipitated the seven charges against Brand.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of detailed
Adjective
  • As a critical first step, the intelligence committees should initiate a thorough oversight investigation into how the norm has been implemented in practice and the current administration’s adherence to its prohibitions.
    — DAVID S. COHEN, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The decision followed a thorough review of the current beverage industry trends, market conditions, and overall company business strategy.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of thorough
Adjective
  • Many of the things that make reactors so difficult to operate—intricate regulations, along with complex systems for management and maintenance—are exactly the kinds of tasks that AI is good at.
    — Andrew Moseman, IEEE Spectrum, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Mungiu may have a less sadistic streak and a more active camera, but the two filmmakers share a particular commitment to narrative indeterminacy, devising intricate yet incomplete crime-story plots that function broadly as sociopolitical allegories.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of intricate
Verb
  • Confusion appears to be a recurring theme surrounding Pike’s botched execution, and that is evident in the events that unfolded thereafter.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The mood in the Commanders’ booth was a little different as Bram Weinstein and analyst London Fletcher couldn’t believe what was unfolding in front of their eyes.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfold
Adjective
  • International funding, Patil says, means long waits, complicated contracts and co-production treaties, and Indian filmmakers end up chasing the same grants as professionals from wealthier countries.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Birmingham Industrious, unassuming Birmingham has overcome an at-times fraught and complicated past to develop food, music, and cultural scenes that show the world why it's called the Magic City.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of complicated
Adjective
  • This is a play full of people trying very hard to be there for each other and discovering what makes that difficult.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Will movie nights and electric go-kart tracks suffice to keep CWG’s buildings full if, as some predict, AI renders large numbers of office jobs redundant?
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of full
Adjective
  • The company very deliberately targets large enterprise customers, which have the biggest and most complicate supply chain ecosystems.
    — David Prosser, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Wilcox noted that overlaps between substance use and suicide complicate reduction efforts.
    — Danielle J. Brown, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
Definition of complicate
Verb
  • Which also added to the broader challenge of navigating a technological environment that evolves almost weekly, alongside important questions about intellectual property and creative rights.
    — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Most people come here for the ever-evolving menu of house cocktails.
    — Condé Nast, cntraveler.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of evolve

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Cite this Entry

“Elaborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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