1
as in detailed
made or done with great care or with much detail
elaborate festivities for the 200th anniversary of the town's founding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thorough
including many small descriptive features
the elaborate world known as Middle Earth that J.R.R. Tolkien created in his richly imagined novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intricate
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated
plans for a huge mall that will actually be an elaborate center for sports, entertainment, and shopping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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Recent Examples of elaborate
Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Plus, fashion designers are often invited to accompany their muses on the red carpet and showcase their elaborate designs.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to elaborate at a news conference on what evidence of intent the government has.
—Michael Kunzelman, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Adjective
Trump was met with an elaborate red-carpet welcome during his last presidential visit to Beijing in 2017.
—Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Plus, fashion designers are often invited to accompany their muses on the red carpet and showcase their elaborate designs.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Verb
The Internal Affairs records did not elaborate further on the deputies’ policy violation.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to elaborate at a news conference on what evidence of intent the government has.
—Michael Kunzelman, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate
Adjective
-
Abel’s detailed knowledge about Berkshire’s operating businesses won praise, but the unexplained absence of substantial buybacks and a lack of clarity on the future of the equity portfolio and Berkshire’s big cash pile are coming up as negatives.—
Alex Crippen,
CNBC,
9 May 2026
-
The district is highly educated and is considered to favor thoughtful candidates with extensive resumes and detailed policy platforms.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Before departure, perform a thorough safety check to ensure your boat is in good working condition and free of potential hazards.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
Located inside a 1950s building, Klaus' apartment needed a thorough renovation.—
Leonie Rolinck,
Architectural Digest,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
These jagged fins are so intricate — some thinner than a human hair — that standard manufacturing couldn’t touch them.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
-
Her practice focuses on divorces involving intricate financial structures like hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
June 21 – July 22 A thoughtful conversation helps something complicated feel easier today.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Her complicated relationship with her parents and being an only child adds to it, as does becoming a mother for the first time.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
The menu is full of sustaining stews, ample vegetables and, from the toné (clay oven), khachapuri, a genre of breads infiltrated by cheese and by turns fluffy, elastic, oozy and tender.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
As a result, Pacers team president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard took full responsibility for the move, apologizing on social media.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
These are common but complicate long-term planning for federal agencies.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Despite differing views on a variety of security issues, the group, like Gilpatric’s, reached a clear consensus: nuclear proliferation by any additional country would diminish U.S. power, complicate strategic planning, and increase the likelihood of nuclear use, accidents, and disasters.—
MARIANO-FLORENTINO CUÉLLAR,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Getting any small business off the ground is no small feat and breweries are complex creatures.—
Blaine Callahan,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
What was looking pretty easy, with Saturday morning rain and then Sunday afternoon to evening rain, has now become a little more complex.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Scientists would like to mount more sophisticated instruments on Mars helicopters to search for things like ice in the Martian soil.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
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Built to scale While the front-facing part of the live wave is all about human connection, the backend is powered by sophisticated technology.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elaborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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