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
  • This was borrowed directly from American sports reporters, with their propensity to exaggerate to make a point, often by citing absurd numbers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Goldman Sachs’ David Mericle suggests this reading has perhaps been exaggerated.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Though Baudelaire was influenced by Poe’s macabre imagination, decadence never developed its own school in nineteenth-century America, then still a young country.
    Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
  • The athlete himself is central to the formula—the products are developed around his lifestyle and career.
    Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • The curved and recessed arms are comfortable and add softness to the design, and the seat and back are padded with thick foam that’s supportive and won’t crush with use.
    Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Glaser, no doubt like many viewers, seemed a little baffled when the Swift songs dried up, and Idol had to pad out the rest of the episode with songs themed around California.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Moon moves through your 9th House of Perspective, expanding how your ideas are received.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
  • At Fremantle, Katrosar built and expanded a global advertising business across streaming, broadcast, social and branded partnerships.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In Blue Hills’ absence, state and local officials have been forced to step in to maintain or supplement the work that the nonprofit previously performed.
    Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The remaining $1 million will supplement the existing Transform Lake County and Resilience grant programs launched last year to fill funding gaps through 2027 for nonprofit groups and lessen the impact of the economy.
    Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 26 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.

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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 3 May. 2026.

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