embellishment

1 something that decorates or beautifies a colorful mobile is just the embellishment that the soon-to-be nursery needs Synonyms adornment, beautifier, caparison, doodad, embellisher, decoration, frill, garnish, garnishment, garniture, ornament, ornamentation, setoff, trimRelated Words apparel, bells and whistles, blazonry, bric-a-brac, chichi, emblazonry, filigree, finery, foofaraw, frippery, frosting, froufrou; fal-lal, flounce, flourish, furbelow, ruffle; enhancement, enrichment, improvement; appliqué, embossment, embroidery, fancywork; bedizenment, gilt, glitter; design, figure, pattern; furnishings, regalia, trappingsNear Antonyms blemish, defacement, disfigurement, scar; blot, spot, stain

2 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 Synonyms caricature, coloring, elaboration, exaggeration, embroidering, embroidery, hyperbole, magnification, overstatement, padding, stretchingRelated Words amplification, enhancement; fabrication, misrepresentation; fudging, hedging; hype, puffery; superlativeNear Antonyms belittlement, disparagement, minimizing, poor-mouthingAntonyms meiosis, understatement