embellish

Synonym Chooser

How is the word embellish different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of embellish are adorn, beautify, deck, decorate, garnish, and ornament. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

When could adorn be used to replace embellish?

Although the words adorn and embellish have much in common, adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself.

a diamond necklace adorned her neck

How do beautify and embellish relate to one another?

Beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

When might deck be a better fit than embellish?

The words deck and embellish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

When can decorate be used instead of embellish?

The synonyms decorate and embellish are sometimes interchangeable, but decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

Where would garnish be a reasonable alternative to embellish?

The meanings of garnish and embellish largely overlap; however, garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.

an entrée garnished with parsley

How are the words ornament and embellish related?

Both ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original.

a white house ornamented with green shutters

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of embellish Before ammunition was personalized with messages, gun magazines and weapons themselves were often embellished with inscriptions. Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025 Media outlets like National Geographic and polar explorers questioned whether some of his claims were embellished (which O'Brady forcefully denied) and criticized the all-land route that included traveling on pre-existing tracks. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025 But the immediacy of One Battle After Another—with its ICE-like detention camps, unlawful militias storming American streets, and elites who promote white supremacy in closed-door meetings—was intended to embellish the spirit of Vineland rather than undermine it. Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Sep. 2025 The spread of banchan—side dishes that fill out a traditional Korean meal—that surrounds the central grill serves as a choose-your-own-adventure map for perfectly embellishing your meats of choice. Irene Yoo september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for embellish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellish
Verb
  • Machado also pushed back on suggestions that Venezuela’s role in drug trafficking had been exaggerated to support the argument of those calling for regime change.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Blazy exaggerated the frayed hems that Coco Chanel loved into ragged edges by letting the cloth be overtaken slowly with tiny hanging strings of beads.
    Nathan Heller, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Jen went into Dedication Night with a special boost, courtesy of husband Zac Affleck, who collected stories from fans and friends of how Jen has inspired them and decorated her trailer with them ahead of her performance.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Vintage photos decorate the walls and the extensive menu covers breakfast, lunch and dinner classics, from eggs Benedict and patty melts to floats and ice cream sundaes.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Winning so frequently while ranking second on the Betrayal Index enhances Mayfield's MVP credentials.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The Featherweight StyleMax Hair Dryer is one of the best hair dryers for curly hair due to its diffuser, comb, and concentrator attachments that enhance types 2A to 4C hair, as well as its accommodating selection of heat and airflow settings.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Jasper runner model got a rose pink or mountain green colorway update, and is adorned with suede patchwork pegasus motifs and ponytail-like fringe details at the back, a nod to the upcoming year of the horse in the Chinese lunar calendar.
    Denni Hu, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Vivid frescoes and ornate details of Renaissance and Mannerism elegance adorn the interior.
    Fulvio De Bonis, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And New England’s hot combo of QB Drake Maye and WR Stefon Diggs will pad their stats against New Orleans.
    Kevin Cusick, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
  • His interviews with players pad their NIL earnings.
    Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Embellish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellish. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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