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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate (on)
Verb
-
The team, according to records shared with Semafor by Moore’s office, is digging into whether Moore had exaggerated his military record, as well as his high school and collegiate basketball tenure.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
6 Apr. 2026 -
Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, whose term featured record numbers of disappearances and homicides, complained that political adversaries were exaggerating the problem to smear his reputation and legacy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While Dad is developing photos in his darkroom, Jeremy flicks on the lights.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
DeVito also directed this charming flick that kinda bombed in theaters but developed a following on VHS and DVD.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What are those team managers doing with our bucks, padding their kids’ college funds?—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
As gas prices continue to cause consternation for many drivers, visiting the pump has padded the wallet of at least one person in Southern California.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The law will expand background checks for adults living with guardians and create a new Child Welfare Ombudsman, which is an independent advocate inside the attorney general's office to handle complaints and review child welfare practices.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Cooper, who has long served as the host of Call Her Daddy since 2018 alongside her ex-cohost Sofia Franklyn, expanded her podcasting empire into the Unwell Network in August 2023.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Jury is toying with grafting some rootstock to white varieties to supplement the chardonnay from Spanish Springs.—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Hummingbirds simply supplement their diet with nectar, which provides quick energy for their high metabolism and nearly constant motion.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 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.
Cite this Entry
“Elaborate (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate%20%28on%29. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
