as in decorative
serving to add beauty
the chef tends to overuse sprigs of parsley and other embellishing garnishes on dishes that don't need them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in exaggerating
to add to the interest of by including made-up details
the story of the comic marriage proposal was embellished as it passed from one generation to the next in the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decorating
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming
the walls of the French restaurant are embellished with scenes of Parisian life
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of embellishing
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Like the pharaohs and emperors of antiquity, the president weaponizes the past to justify his present actions and future plans, omitting and embellishing events of yesteryear to fit a bellicose agenda.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Like Frey, Lowell was a self-dramatizing fraudster, taking elements of her real life and grandly embellishing them.
—Michael Waters, New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2026
Many fans of the NBA today believe there are too many whistles, players embellishing for fouls, and superstar players conga lining to the free-throw line.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
In Babylonian and Assyrian artworks, too, feathers are often seen covering the bodies of deities or embellishing royal crowns.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
That calls for a little extra creativity from its mom — and the movie’s narrator (Emilia Clarke) — who wriggles her mandibles and gets to work embellishing upon what Dahl imagined.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
One of the standout footwear styles presented by Dior was a mule with a dramatically oversized rosette embellishing the upper, coming in different colors including a pastel plaid.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 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
Verb
Many arias from the 1800s include repeated verses to give the singers the opportunity to show off their coloratura skills by embellishing the sections of the songs the second time around.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Like the pharaohs and emperors of antiquity, the president weaponizes the past to justify his present actions and future plans, omitting and embellishing events of yesteryear to fit a bellicose agenda.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Like Frey, Lowell was a self-dramatizing fraudster, taking elements of her real life and grandly embellishing them.
—Michael Waters, New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2026
Many fans of the NBA today believe there are too many whistles, players embellishing for fouls, and superstar players conga lining to the free-throw line.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
In Babylonian and Assyrian artworks, too, feathers are often seen covering the bodies of deities or embellishing royal crowns.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
That calls for a little extra creativity from its mom — and the movie’s narrator (Emilia Clarke) — who wriggles her mandibles and gets to work embellishing upon what Dahl imagined.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
One of the standout footwear styles presented by Dior was a mule with a dramatically oversized rosette embellishing the upper, coming in different colors including a pastel plaid.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellishing
Adjective
-
The artists' behind it want to bring gentle motion into what would otherwise be static decorative objects, without losing the aesthetic quality of solid wood.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Mar. 2026
-
These are series in which setting is not decorative, but fundamental to the drama.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bosco’s attorneys argue Shaw was exaggerating the situation.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
-
One expert, however, testified for prosecutors that the defendant was malingering, or exaggerating his psychiatric issues and was not legally insane at the time.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Aubrey mother uses rally to teach daughter Aubrey residents Emily Murray, 43, and her 9-year-old daughter Storie spent Friday evening making signs and decorating a shirt before attending their first No Kings protest in Frisco on Saturday.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Wreaths are also custom to Ancient Greece, with Greeks traditionally decorating their front door with a flower wreath to symbolize welcoming nature into their homes.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But until the last century or so, they weren't even considered a valuable fruit – instead, their ornamental vines and flowers were the selling point.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The surrounding ornamental designs of flowers and fruit include the arms of the Genoese Republic and the Custody of the Holy Land, the arm of the Franciscan order that shares guardianship of the Holy Sepulcher.—
Sarah Kozlowski,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The shop offers a full menu of services, including men's and children's haircuts, beard trims, lineups, shampooing, and hair coloring.—
Justin Adams,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The most common culprits include chemical treatments and exposure (think blow-drying, heat-styling, perming, keratin treatments, bleaching, and all types of hair coloring), drying or stripping hair products, and infrequent haircuts.—
Danielle Sinay,
Glamour,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 2026 Academy Awards were no exception, with brilliant brooches, glittering gems, and sparkling strands adorning the A-list on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre.—
Madeline Hirsch,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Lilies are a common Easter plant, adorning homes and churches across the Southeast during the spring.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested lifting sanctions on Iranian oil already at sea in a bid to lower oil prices – which might mean padding the war chest of a US enemy.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
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Egyptian immigrants Azzam and Samra Ahmed are padding their savings by performing for bots in their one-bedroom apartment in Pasadena.—
NILESH CHRISTOPHER LOS ANGELES TIMES,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Instead of draping yourself in lace (which can feel a bit overdone), try a flowy white gown with a delicate floral pattern for events like showers, parties, and rehearsal dinners.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
25 Mar. 2026
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Baptista was a vision of radiance in a silver Zuhair Murad gown that featured an off-the-shoulder design, plunging neckline, cinched waist, draping details, and flowy floor-sweeping skirt.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embellishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellishing. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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