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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of embellishing
Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
While heading to a Late Show With Stephen Colbert appearance with the White Stripes frontman, Scarlett showed off her effortless transitional season style in an olive green jacket with rows of large gold buttons embellishing the front.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellishing
Adjective
-
The square neckline is complemented by decorative buttons, the sleeves are designed with smocked accents and ruffles, and the stripes give it a nautical, breezy vibe that’s fit for your next beach trip or cruise.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
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What began as a commission for two mirrors grew over the following decade into an ensemble of 15, transforming the room into one of the most remarkable decorative commissions of the 20th century.—
Jennifer Baum Lagdameo,
Architectural Digest,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, whose term featured record numbers of disappearances and homicides, complained that political adversaries were exaggerating the problem to smear his reputation and legacy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Analysts note that the Russia Defense ministry has a habit of exaggerating advances when the frontlines are scarcely changing.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After a cold, dark winter, nothing feels more uplifting than decorating for spring with cheerful accents that signal sunnier days ahead.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2026
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On Easter Sunday on April 5, Meghan shared videos on social media of the family's celebration, including Lili and Archie hunting for and decorating eggs.—
GMA Team,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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His pieces include solid wood chairs with a deliberately rudimentary, almost minimal design, integrating ornamental elements such as marquetry panels or tin bas-reliefs into their backs, legs or seats.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
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This ornamental thyme can be used to fill in the sandy spaces between stepping stones or crevices in rock walls.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some activities aligned with a slower approach could include baking, gardening, sitting with your kids and talking or coloring rather than looking at a screen, and putting comfort first.—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
11 Apr. 2026
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Each cookie has cheery yellow petals and a magenta center, with coloring strictly derived from vegetable juices.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Memorization and keywords help non-English speakers On a recent Saturday, eight students crammed into a tiny classroom with road signs adorning the walls.—
David Ovalle,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2026
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Earlier this week, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts unveiled a mural adorning construction fencing along Amsterdam Avenue, marking the western edge of LCPA’s Upper West Side campus.—
Leigh Anne Miller,
ARTnews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Two silhouettes caught on grainy security cameras, padding through a massive, empty aqua park lit only by whatever ambient light existed.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Apr. 2026
-
What are those team managers doing with our bucks, padding their kids’ college funds?—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The star's honey blonde hair was swept up into a twist at the top of her head with a long ponytail draping down and a few tendrils framing her face.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Silky smooth and produced eco-consciously, Tencel is a polished, lightweight fabric that’s soft against skin and has a luxurious draping quality.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embellishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellishing. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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