1
as in ornamentation
something that decorates or beautifies
a colorful mobile is just the embellishment that the soon-to-be nursery needs
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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
The co-chair returned to the Met Gala for the first time since 2016 in a custom Olivier Rousteing look, with a sheer nude base, crystal skeleton embroidery and black embellishment mapped across the body.
—
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 4 May 2026
Certain styles even have jewel embellishments for a more attention-grabbing look.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Your denim collection contains a mix of silhouettes, washes, and hemlines; your shoe collection, meanwhile, mixes heel heights, embellishments, and toe shapes.
—Kelsey Stiegman, Glamour, 1 May 2026
The 17-year-old model posted her Oscar de la Renta look – a strapless gown with a corset-style bodice featuring silver floral embellishments and a sheer tulle skirt – on Instagram Sunday, April 19.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embellishment
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 4 May 2026
Certain styles even have jewel embellishments for a more attention-grabbing look.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Your denim collection contains a mix of silhouettes, washes, and hemlines; your shoe collection, meanwhile, mixes heel heights, embellishments, and toe shapes.
—Kelsey Stiegman, Glamour, 1 May 2026
The 17-year-old model posted her Oscar de la Renta look – a strapless gown with a corset-style bodice featuring silver floral embellishments and a sheer tulle skirt – on Instagram Sunday, April 19.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for embellishment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellishment
Noun
-
It is surrounded by appliqué ornamentation reflecting the decorative arts of each culture and an ornate frieze around the periphery.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Yet its sleek, monochromatic design serves as a quiet counterpoint to the temple’s rich ornamentation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Each reiteration and exaggeration of Mary’s bad behavior is another civic stroke of the chisel that perfects the monumental Lincoln in our collective imagination.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
And half the conference isn't an exaggeration, considering Sankey's prior remarks.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The product was inspired by the popularity of the Barnum & Bailey Circus and packaged in the now-iconic circus train box designed to resemble a Christmas ornament.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
Make Your Own Art Make time for Sunspots Studios, a glassblowing studio where visitors can catch a live demonstration and choose some beautiful glass to take home, such as ornaments, vases, hummingbird feeders, and jewelry.—
Erin Gifford,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Gangsta rap’s effectiveness as a prosecutorial tool, like the minstrel shows before it, depends on audiences mistaking caricature for authenticity, and hinges on hearing artistic expression as documentary evidence of criminal actions.—
A.D. Carson,
The Conversation,
6 May 2026
-
Sacramento City Unified School District is looking to change a high school mascot which depicts a racial caricature that is offensive to the Indigenous community.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
These flavors are not just for decoration.—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
Among Collington's awards and decorations was the Army Service Ribbon.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The makers of the Bayeux Tapestry (technically an embroidery) made extensive use of botanical imagery in their creation, with trees acting as both story elements and as punctuation between scenes.—
Anne Doran,
ARTnews.com,
14 May 2026
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Merging the world of racing with feminine touches for fan merch, racing graphic motifs are paired with puff ink, embroidery, vintage-washed and checkerboard patterns for apparel and accessories.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The designer Christian Dior’s signature and wickerwork shells are among other adornments.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
-
Flavorful heirloom tomatoes don't need much adornment to shine.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
As part of that package, Republicans included $1 billion for White House security enhancements, part of it connected to Trump’s ballroom.—
Mary Clare Jalonick,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
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The platform is built on large language model infrastructure and adapted for legal workflows through integrations, prompt engineering, and domain-specific enhancements.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embellishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellishment. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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