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
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026
Whether the heist is real or an elaborate marketing play, the response has generated widespread attention — and KitKat appeared ready for it.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
The 1970s plus the Ukraine War Birol elaborated on the numbers behind his assertion, saying the losses already accrued are far worse than those from the 1970 oil crises and the Ukraine war.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Adjective
There’s no need for elaborate, high-tech designs, only a sensitivity to ventilation, shade, openness, and materials that feel rooted in local life.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026
Whether the heist is real or an elaborate marketing play, the response has generated widespread attention — and KitKat appeared ready for it.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
At the time, Eric Kay, Google’s VP of Android engineering, said Google would expand integration to more devices in 2026 without elaborating.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
The 1970s plus the Ukraine War Birol elaborated on the numbers behind his assertion, saying the losses already accrued are far worse than those from the 1970 oil crises and the Ukraine war.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate
Adjective
-
Unlike reports on ICEBlock, posts tended to feature detailed information about each incident, including photographs and videos.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
His 120 illustrations are colorful, sometimes combining nature photography with Walden’s original creations to form detailed settings.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Give your home a thorough cleaning without ever grabbing a broom with this intuitive robot cleaning vacuum.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings.—
Keith Caulfield,
Billboard,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some were draped in ivy, others adorned with pink blossoms, but none are forgotten by nature’s touch—each brought to life by the intricate details that transport you into a postcard of the Italian countryside.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Drawing inspiration from the human hand’s intricate design and proprioceptive capabilities, this study aims to enhance the dexterity of robotic hands, particularly in multi-degree-of-freedom (DoF) motion and posture perception.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The complicated and delicate efforts to rescue the 12-15 meter (39-49 feet) whale off a sandbank at Timmendorfer Strand beach earlier this week captivated Germans — with media sending news alerts of updates on its progress and streaming live video from the scene.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Readers send Miss Manners not only their table and party questions, but those involving the more complicated aspects of life - romance, work, family relationships, child-rearing, death - as well as philosophical and moral dilemmas.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The market is full of vehicles that blur the line between a traditional e-bike and something closer to a motorcycle, and manufacturers don’t always make the distinction easy to spot.—
Sarah Raza,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In addition to the separate living room and bedroom, a dining area sported a full dinner table, a perfect setting for in-room meals.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 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
-
Then set aside time to file electronically, use tax software or meet with a professional if your finances are more complex.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to the waste from duplication, the DA has noted that the new unit could threaten complex cases involving coordination with the state attorney general and end up prematurely settling cases that are part of larger investigations.—
Adam Summers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Her middle name isn’t a very sophisticated one.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Buying artificial or natural flowers that are in season is a great way to create a sophisticated environment for your event.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elaborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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