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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of embellishment
These are not creative embellishments of personality.
—
Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Heidi Klum wowed in a strapless champagne column gown featuring shimmering crystal embellishments and intricate vertical beadwork.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 15 Mar. 2026
These women stood out not just for their star power, but for their fearless approach to fashion—embracing eye-catching embellishments like feathers, tulle, intricate embroidery and dramatic textures that transformed classic silhouettes into statement-making ensembles.
—Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 15 Mar. 2026
Free of the trappings and exaggerations of the 1980s, fashion had turned to celebrating clothes in their simplest, purest form, with invisible seams and clean lines, devoid of embellishments and in a strictly neutral, pattern-free palette.
—Valentina Bottoni, Vanity Fair, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embellishment
Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Heidi Klum wowed in a strapless champagne column gown featuring shimmering crystal embellishments and intricate vertical beadwork.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 15 Mar. 2026
These women stood out not just for their star power, but for their fearless approach to fashion—embracing eye-catching embellishments like feathers, tulle, intricate embroidery and dramatic textures that transformed classic silhouettes into statement-making ensembles.
—Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 15 Mar. 2026
Free of the trappings and exaggerations of the 1980s, fashion had turned to celebrating clothes in their simplest, purest form, with invisible seams and clean lines, devoid of embellishments and in a strictly neutral, pattern-free palette.
—Valentina Bottoni, Vanity Fair, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embellishment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellishment
Noun
-
Pale, dusty hues enhance natural light, offering a subtle counterpoint to the rich ornamentation, while ceiling paintings by Vicke Andrén, celebrated for his work at the Royal Swedish Opera, underscore the apartment’s artistic importance.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
23 Mar. 2026
-
One of the White House’s most compelling features has always been its domestic scale and ornamentation.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Behind the private gates of Clos du Lac, where vineyards edge the winding roads, one hilltop estate overlooking Folsom Lake pulls off the Mediterranean spirit so seamlessly that comparisons to the Italian countryside don’t feel like exaggeration.—
David Caraccio
March 28,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Together, these individuals bedevil lawmakers with their flag-waving and their exaggerations about the alien problem.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What remains in a lot of these tracks, then, are dazzling little ornaments.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The store’s display of wooden German pieces, for example, are reproductions of a line of German ornaments from the late 1920s.—
Emily M. Olson,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The latter, a wry comedy of futile endeavor, was based on a story by Kiarostami, but Haghighi soon sought to shake off Kiarostami’s influence—and, even more, a prevailing caricature of Iranian cinema that Kiarostami’s style had given rise to.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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There will also be hands-on creative activities for people of all ages, including printmaking, henna and glitter tattoos, foam crafts, sand art, caricatures, and more.—
Alyson Rodriguez,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Shoppers can also find mini refrigerators and even Christmas decorations.—
Madeleine Wright,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
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If fragrance wants to retain both cultural and commercial strength in the decades ahead, legacy must be treated not as decoration, but as infrastructure.—
Sudhir Gupta,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The key here is to look for smart fits and dressy details, including creasing, pleating, and even embroidery.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
24 Mar. 2026
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Gold, silver, precious and semi-precious stones are on display, along with silk textiles ornamented with velvet, damask and embroidery.—
Sarah Kozlowski,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Brown and her creative team have gotten caught up in adornment without capturing a deeper undertow that strings it all together.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Since Fossil started releasing its special-edition ring watches — tapping everyone from Barbie to Nick Jonas and Disney for the task — people started falling in love with the adornments’ more playful side, not to mention mini-watches’ unisex wearability and gift-worthiness.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Also riding this jet stream of enhancements are, among others, Qantas and Korean Air.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
28 Mar. 2026
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According to MnDOT, the project will resurface aging pavement, repair and improve bridges, repair and resurface ramps, replace drainage and make additional safety enhancements.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embellishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellishment. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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