elaborate (on)

Definition of elaborate (on)next
1
as in to exaggerate
to add to the interest of by including made-up details my friend tends to elaborate on his hiking experiences, turning an ordinary walk in the woods into a hair-raising adventure

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2
as in to develop
to express more fully and in greater detail the candidate for governor refused to elaborate on how she would balance the state's budget

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate (on)
Verb
  • Others say those concerns are being exaggerated so those residents can get their way.
    Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Historically, some doctors have dismissed these differences as women exaggerating their pain or being unable to tolerate the same discomfort as men.
    Aria Bendix, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This is a developing story and will be updated.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
  • To counter this, the Janus Program aims to develop the capability to rapidly deploy nuclear reactors where needed for both military and disaster-relief applications.
    David Szondy February 21, New Atlas, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The market is decidedly not the economy, but enthusiasm from Wall Street helps pad retirement accounts, which can give consumers the confidence to spend their money.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Bane tried to pad the Magic’s lead with eight seconds remaining but had his shot blocked inside by rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Oseguera was the leader and co-founder of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a criminal group that has rapidly expanded its influence in recent years, becoming one of the main traffickers of methamphetamine and fentanyl into the US.
    Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty Images Four years of war between Russia and Ukraine are beginning to take their toll on the countries' demographics as the conflict puts women off — or prevents them — from starting or expanding their families.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The primetime show was reimagined to highlight key events with more interviews and analysis to supplement what viewers might have seen live earlier in the day.
    Joe Reedy, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Sullivan will likely look for more to supplement them and two other defensive tackles the Dolphins had as rookies last season — Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers.
    David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Elaborate (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate%20%28on%29. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.

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