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

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

And the contour was subtle, embellishing the outer edges only. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 14 May 2026

In online chats with ADF members in Cameroon, Chungag falsely claimed to have combat experience in Iraq but appeared to be embellishing his military background to raise his profile in the group, the affidavit says. — ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026

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