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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of embellishing
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
Inch by inch, the AI aids the person in embellishing the delusion.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
Inch by inch, the AI aids the person in embellishing the delusion.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellishing
Adjective
-
Let the plant dry before returning it to its decorative container or usual location.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
-
While decorative garlands and fresh flowers are a great way to spruce up your space, a seasonal wreath full of vibrant florals can transform your doorway and entryway (or mantel and fireplace).—
Jamie Weissman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The show, in exaggerating adolescence—in remaking that consequential phase as a fantasy and a melodrama—also managed to honor it.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Companies are exaggerating their AI capabilities to raise their value and, in turn, creating a host of problems for executives and employees alike.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The model added a slight shimmer to her ensemble by decorating her Saint Laurent slingback pumps with dangling diamond anklets.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
If vibrant hues aren’t your thing, try decorating for the holiday with some gorgeous greenery like @gagirl_vintagedecor did on Instagram.—
Nomita Vaish-Taylor,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Try planting succulents, flowering vines, ornamental grasses, fruits, and vegetables.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Designers are now layering materials — combining sections of horizontal cedar fencing with tall, dense plantings like arborvitae or ornamental grasses—to create softer, more organic privacy screens.—
Rosehill Gardens,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The final stage is coloring everything.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Add the onion and saute until soft without coloring, 2 to 3 minutes.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While the silhouettes remain relatively the same, Queen Camilla regularly experiments with color and patterns, even adorning her coats with sentimental and historic jewelry pieces.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
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On a gray and dreary winter day in the city, the vibrant colors and distinguished face adorning a West Philadelphia rowhome are hard to miss.—
Janelle Burrell,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Netflix’s The Waterfront also centers around a small-town family running a failing fishing business and padding their pockets by helping cartels smuggle drugs using their fishing boats.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Charlotte didn’t let up and resumed padding its lead.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The footage subsequently shows the suspect grabbing leaves from the front yard and draping them over the camera lens to avoid further detection.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Feb. 2026
-
If more privacy is the goal though, try draping airy textiles like a silk scarf or a lace tablecloth to achieve a more closed-off situation.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embellishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellishing. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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