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 On the starboard side lies a bar embellished with amethyst and agate; on the port side is a hookah room with fold-down sea terraces. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2025 It’s embellished with aspen tree wallpaper, deer motifs, and red-and-black plaid armchairs that look like your favorite flannel shirt. Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 4 Sep. 2025 The sweater’s drop shoulder gives it a relaxed look, and the patch pockets on the pants are both practical and embellishing. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025 Below the center stone, the sides feature a design that may include carvings that likewise play into the ring’s vintage vibe and are embellished with smaller diamonds. Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for embellish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellish
Verb
  • In early 2025, the stock fell nearly 57% from February to April in the wake of a short-seller report that alleged the company had exaggerated its e-commerce performance and breached service terms.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • This performative solidarity was not appreciated by Saudi commentators who argued Egypt exaggerated the seriousness of Netanyahu's comments in a bid to drag Saudi Arabia in a confrontation with the Israelis for political reasons.
    Khaled Hassan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Families can enjoy painting a watercolor on the terrace with local artist Nancy Willis or a cookie-decorating class with Pastry Chef Celine Plano.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Its reversible design offers you the unique opportunity to decorate with the seasons—the lighter side for spring and summer and the darker to capture the moodiness of fall and winter.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The trio, working in tandem with a blend of 30 essential oils and extracts, comes together to condition hair follicles, relieve dry scalp, smooth split ends, and enhance hair elasticity.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
  • That is, the group enables Hamas to be both arsonist and firefighter, enhancing its control and reach into the lives of average, everyday Palestinians in Gaza.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Dainty gold buckles adorn the soft suede straps that will hold your feet firmly in place, and the square toe design offers room for your toes to sit comfortably without feeling squished.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The father-son duo both towered over Hargitay, adorning casual clothing in snaps taken from their visit.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The exchange is indicative of this odd, frustrating, occasionally intriguing project, which pads out scarce but real nuggets of insight with leading questions and endless clips.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The lack of any real surprises or subversions along the way can be a drag, making the Prime Video miniseries feel a bit padded even at a relatively trim six hour-long episodes.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Embellish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellish. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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