1
as in ornamentation
something that decorates or beautifies
a colorful mobile is just the embellishment that the soon-to-be nursery needs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
the actor's penchant for embellishment suggests that his memoirs would be more appropriately shelved in the fiction section
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of embellishment
Michelle Williams donned a sleeveless, floor-length pink dress that was decorated with floral embellishments and featured a high neckline.
—
Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Mar. 2026
But there were, nonetheless, plenty of fringes, beaded embellishments and allusions to the jazz age on the red carpet at LA’s Shrine Auditorium.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
Even alternative archives require selection, embellishment, and decisions about emphasis whose rationales may not always be clear.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Prada rarely shies away from extra embellishment.
—Christina Holevas, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embellishment
Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Mar. 2026
But there were, nonetheless, plenty of fringes, beaded embellishments and allusions to the jazz age on the red carpet at LA’s Shrine Auditorium.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
Even alternative archives require selection, embellishment, and decisions about emphasis whose rationales may not always be clear.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Prada rarely shies away from extra embellishment.
—Christina Holevas, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embellishment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellishment
Noun
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Some of those preservationists led efforts at least to rescue parts of the building — including John Vinci and Richard Nickel, who saved the whole interior of the trading room and other ornamentation.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
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Too much ornamentation can become quickly dated.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The four first-round picks is an exaggeration, because Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois traded one (and a prospect) for each player, but the point is sound.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Any exaggeration of the harms of COVID vaccines by ACIP’s members could give the committee, and ultimately Bhattacharya’s CDC, justification to advise certain populations to stop taking the shots altogether.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This ornament, situating them as something between a throw pillow and a hand muff, shrouds the thick-boned fore- and hindquarters that give them a characteristic rolling gait.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
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Putting up the Christmas tree last year with ornaments Ryan and his sister made was tough, Gary said.—
Emma Hurt,
AJC.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But the show, created by Jonathan Glatzer, also captures something about the people that goes beyond caricature and that resonates at this particular moment.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
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The ants that animators once morphed into googly-eyed caricatures in films such as A Bug’s Life and Antz just received a meticulously precise anatomical reboot.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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He was awarded a top decoration for service.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star.—
Michael Dorgan , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For example, insights from Trend Brain helped inspire a Western edit of clothing and accessories like purses with fringe and belts with embroidery, with all items under $40.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
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Romantic ruffled bedding doesn’t get better than the Serena & Lily Antibes percale bedding set with eyelet embroidery.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The high-low hair adornment has arrived.—
Arden Fanning Andrews,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
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The flag had become a landmark, a giant adornment in the heart of downtown.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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New approach achieved an enhancement Scientists reported that earlier research on similar materials typically increased heat conductivity by only about 5–10 percent, but this new approach achieved an enhancement close to 300 percent.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
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Quintana pleaded guilty in April 2019 to assault with a firearm with sentencing enhancements for gang activity and the personal use of a gun.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embellishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellishment. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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