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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elaborate
Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026
The stage was multilevel, ship-themed and elaborate.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026
Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
The high court denied the petition on the emergency docket in a brief, unsigned order, declining to elaborate on its decision, and did not include any dissents.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Adjective
The city is especially associated with samba and Carnival, which features elaborate parades and street celebrations that draw visitors from around the world.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026
The stage was multilevel, ship-themed and elaborate.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026
Verb
This idea, called the two-step flow theory of communication, was originally developed by Paul Lazarsfeld and collaborators in the 1940s and elaborated upon by Lazarsfeld and Elihu Katz in the mid-1950s.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
The high court denied the petition on the emergency docket in a brief, unsigned order, declining to elaborate on its decision, and did not include any dissents.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate
Adjective
-
The ministry is part of Gaza’s Hamas-run government, but staffed by medical professionals who maintain and publish detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
-
While other operators submitted detailed incident summaries to the US regulator, Tesla blacked out every narrative entirely, labeling them as confidential business information.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Removing Stains From Your Microwave Baking soda gives more than a thorough cleaning.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
-
Rinse under cold water 1 minute, shaking to ensure a thorough rinse.—
Midwest Living,
Midwest Living,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
One of the most important traditions is pineapple pole plaiting, in which artisans weave and shape materials into intricate forms.—
Taryn White,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
The intricate family drama uses Christianity as a pillar, but extends outward to explore the sticky nuances and unexpected circumstances that arise amid major life changes.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
This novel of exile and memory chronicles the life of Sufien, a Palestinian man displaced as a child by the Nakba, whose story unfolds across continents and encompasses entanglements with a broad range of characters.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Breakfasts and informal suppers unfold in the Brasserie, which has an orangery, and a terrace for sunny mornings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Republican primary field is far more complicated.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
16 May 2026
-
This summer’s most unlikely wine trend does not involve a rare bottle or a complicated spritz.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Analysts say the reason global markets were not immediately hit by the full impact of disruptions to Middle Eastern crude supplies is that commercial inventories, government strategic reserves, and tankers already at sea have acted as buffers.—
,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
To accentuate her silver metallic gown, Twain rocked rocked full bangs teamed with long auburn tresses.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
18 May 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
-
According to the sheriff, multiple laboratories across the country — including federal and state partners — are collaborating behind the scenes as technology continues to evolve.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
-
The update reflects the state’s evolving understanding of its most dangerous pollutants, which has shifted over the decades from visible pollutants, such as smog, to more invisible ones that cause cancer, heart disease and other health harms.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elaborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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