1
as in evolution
the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced
the elaboration of the Internet from an exclusive computer network into a worldwide communications network of colossal proportions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
the eyewitness was deemed unreliable because of his obvious elaboration of what he had actually seen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elaboration
To highlight his creative process, instead of a look book, Mabire-Larguier showcased the toile of his design on a dummy at the entrance to the studio, with pattern-marks and pins on show, all the better to signify the technique involved in its elaboration.
—
Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026
Her entry was the shortest in the statement and included no elaboration.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Jackson acknowledged only that circumstances changed — without elaboration.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Juicy, whole lobster served grilled or blackened is best, though the menu at this famous haunt features every possible elaboration of the dish.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Two other things come up in the conversation that need some clarification and elaboration.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026
Trump’s statement about Iran included no elaboration or specific plan for military action.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
At a time when Lope de Vega, Calderón de la Barca, and Cervantes were weaving verbal spells upon the stage, music must have seemed a superfluous addition—just as, in England, the mighty lines of Marlowe and Shakespeare hardly cried out for melodic elaboration.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Detail of the hand of a scientist working on a microscope in the elaboration of the rapid molecular test for COVID 19 on August 12, 2020 in Lima, Peru.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026
Her entry was the shortest in the statement and included no elaboration.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Jackson acknowledged only that circumstances changed — without elaboration.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Juicy, whole lobster served grilled or blackened is best, though the menu at this famous haunt features every possible elaboration of the dish.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Two other things come up in the conversation that need some clarification and elaboration.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026
Trump’s statement about Iran included no elaboration or specific plan for military action.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
At a time when Lope de Vega, Calderón de la Barca, and Cervantes were weaving verbal spells upon the stage, music must have seemed a superfluous addition—just as, in England, the mighty lines of Marlowe and Shakespeare hardly cried out for melodic elaboration.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Detail of the hand of a scientist working on a microscope in the elaboration of the rapid molecular test for COVID 19 on August 12, 2020 in Lima, Peru.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaboration
Noun
-
Cody Cofer, Autumn Hill's attorney, pointed out the evolution of Baumann's cooperation with the government.—
Kelsy Mittauer,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The findings may tell us something about human evolution.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The four first-round picks is an exaggeration, because Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois traded one (and a prospect) for each player, but the point is sound.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Any exaggeration of the harms of COVID vaccines by ACIP’s members could give the committee, and ultimately Bhattacharya’s CDC, justification to advise certain populations to stop taking the shots altogether.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Unable to raise budgets as fast as populations, some cities slowed or stalled new development, rather than depress services to existing taxpayers.—
Mark Dee
March 6,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The sports facility would be the first major development under the 2021 plan.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
New approach achieved an enhancement Scientists reported that earlier research on similar materials typically increased heat conductivity by only about 5–10 percent, but this new approach achieved an enhancement close to 300 percent.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Quintana pleaded guilty in April 2019 to assault with a firearm with sentencing enhancements for gang activity and the personal use of a gun.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some nice progress could begin soon in your living space.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
That progress reflects decades of work by families, self-advocates and policymakers who came together to design systems that consider people with disabilities from the start.—
Jonathon Rondeau,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the show, created by Jonathan Glatzer, also captures something about the people that goes beyond caricature and that resonates at this particular moment.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The ants that animators once morphed into googly-eyed caricatures in films such as A Bug’s Life and Antz just received a meticulously precise anatomical reboot.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The central chord progression’s pads and low-end synths begin at low volumes and swell upward as that resonant grain bites into the mix, the latter doing so with gate and delay effects before spiralling back downward.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Long-term studies tracking cancer progression, immune response and climate systems lose continuity.—
Dave Doneson,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After some stretching and instruction, I was let loose in the Atlantic.—
Austin Bush,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The rover has spent roughly six months exploring unusual geological formations on Mars known as boxwork — crisscrossing ridges that resemble giant spiderwebs stretching across the surface for miles when viewed from orbit.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elaboration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaboration. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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