elaborate (on)

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
  • Second, the extent of the controversies has often been exaggerated: a handful of Trump supporters have stuck their heads above the parapet, the media have sniffed drama and written up stories about friction, and nothing has ultimately changed.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 27 June 2025
  • Opponents of burnout argue that burnout researchers exaggerate that burnout is a condition of epidemic magnitude.
    Lieke ten Brummelhuis, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • As a result, Tehran has tried to balance Chinese influence by maintaining strong ties to India, Beijing’s chief rival within the developing world.
    Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 6 July 2025
  • Reef habitats support aquatic plants and animals, allowing young marine life to develop.
    Rafe Pomerance, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • What to look for in a quality diaper bag Padding The best diaper bags have padding in the straps.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
  • The Cubs took care of business in May, padding their record during a softer stretch of the schedule that featured the Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • The former carpet warehouse was already outfitted with car lifts — that Tires, Etc. location (Mr. Gerben owns several) was going to expand — and Gillis paid out of pocket to build out the rest of the set.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
  • As part of the package, the Department of Transportation (DOT) will deliver more than $275 million in grant funding to expand parking access for truck drivers nationwide.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The group of rats that was fed a diet supplemented with chitosan expelled more MPs that any of the other groups.
    Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Mütter’s bequest was eventually supplemented by donations from other physicians and scientists.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
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 11 Jul. 2025.

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