Synonyms of embellishing

embellishing 1 of 2

adjective

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

• decorative
• ornamental
• beautiful
• adorning
• cosmetic
• lovely
• beautifying
• charming
• gorgeous
• appealing
• delightful
• ornate
• attractive
• pleasing
• alluring
• elaborate
• glamorous
• stunning
• fancy
• detailed
• handsome
• pretty
• prepossessing
• beauteous
• comely
• fair
• bonny

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• functional
• utilitarian

embellishing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of embellish

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

• exaggerating
• coloring
• padding
• enhancing
• embroidering
• expanding
• stretching
• hyperbolizing
• magnifying
• satirizing
• elaborating (on)
• emphasizing
• amplifying
• stressing
• overdoing
• enlarging (on or upon)
• hedging
• overstating
• overemphasizing
• fudging
• overplaying
• fleshing (out)
• overdrawing
• caricaturing
• gussying up
• playing up
• dressing up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimizing
• belittling
• understating
• playing down

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decorating
• adorning
• draping
• ornamenting
• trimming
• dressing
• beautifying
• garnishing
• enriching
• embossing
• painting
• festooning
• decking
• gracing
• arraying
• blazoning
• gussying up
• bedecking
• doing
• embroidering
• doing up
• prettying (up)
• fancifying
• accessorizing
• dolling up
• caparisoning
• bedizening
• emblazing
• trapping
• brightening
• fancying up
• glitzing (up)
• freshening
• braiding
• chasing
• smartening
• appliquéing
• ribboning
• hanging
• tricking (out)
• frilling
• garlanding
• gilding
• sprucing (up)
• swagging
• dressing up
• figuring
• flouncing
• fringing
• bossing
• filleting
• wreathing
• jeweling
• redoing
• lacing
• feathering
• redecorating
• filigreeing
• pearling
• gemming
• impearling
• diamonding
• furbelowing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• spoiling
• marring
• disfiguring
• defacing
• simplifying
• streamlining
• displaying
• revealing
• stripping
• scarring
• exposing
• uncovering
• dismantling
• blemishing
• baring
• denuding
• divesting
• uglifying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of embellishing

Verb

This week, the retailer shared an Instagram video showing a woman applying a Biodance face mask before embellishing the product with colorful plastic gems. — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026

Despite embellishing his movie with period-accurate clothes, decor, and music, Mitchell has no deep attachment to the period at all. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026

Mills has been previously accused of embellishing his military record. — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

Even his close friends accuse Bret of embellishing the truth for creative purposes, not incidentally an accusation both Ellis and Murphy have often faced. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026

Beyond that, there is the knowledge that every game, every performance, every dramatic intervention on Argentina’s behalf, is embellishing a sporting legacy that already seemed complete. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026

In a competitive job market, appearing behind can feel riskier than embellishing skills. — Susan Jacobson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

There was no embellishing symbol, no longer a visual bow to the crown. — Dr. Matthew Warshauer, Hartford Courant, 26 June 2026

Across almost every level of competitive basketball, embellishing one’s height is so common as to be unremarkable. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 4 June 2026