as in ornamentation
decoration that consists of delicate and complicated designs made of fine gold or silver wire
a surface decorated with filigree and pearls
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as in to ribbon
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Recent Examples of filigree
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Inching through the beam of light, an alien creature crawled across the surface of the sand, resembling an inch-long cluster of ghostly leaves fringed with silvery filigree and capped with a pair of antennae-like stalks.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Alex Davies, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2019
In contrast to the historic skyscraper’s filigreed crown of flying buttresses and pinnacles, the top of the new one would consist of curving glass walls extending beyond the building’s occupied floors.
—Blair Kamin and Ryan Ori, chicagotribune.com, 16 Apr. 2018
See All Example Sentences for filigree
Noun
Mancuso’s cascading lines and shimmering filigrees are dazzling, yet almost instantly bring to mind the work of Beck, Vai, Eric Johnson, Eddie Van Halen and other legends who inspired him.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Inching through the beam of light, an alien creature crawled across the surface of the sand, resembling an inch-long cluster of ghostly leaves fringed with silvery filigree and capped with a pair of antennae-like stalks.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
Another helpful move was using what Bugatti calls filigree side view mirrors, which let air pass through them.
—Alex Davies, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2019
In contrast to the historic skyscraper’s filigreed crown of flying buttresses and pinnacles, the top of the new one would consist of curving glass walls extending beyond the building’s occupied floors.
—Blair Kamin and Ryan Ori, chicagotribune.com, 16 Apr. 2018
See All Example Sentences for filigree
Recent Examples of Synonyms for filigree
Noun
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Yet its sleek, monochromatic design serves as a quiet counterpoint to the temple’s rich ornamentation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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Eager to make connections with important people, Kapoor invited mayors to ribbon cuttings and doled outmore than $100,000 in campaign checks from corporate accounts, about half of which went to a political committee supporting a losing candidate in this November’s Miami Beach mayoral race.—
Sarah Blaskey,
Miami Herald,
16 Dec. 2025
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The road that ribbons through the foothills rises and twists like the tail of a cat.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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At the center of each ornament is a small flower that spins in the breeze.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
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Much like her environmentally conscious mama, Penelope Disick's choice of birthday party decorations featured ornaments that were not only good for her aesthetic, but also good for the environment.—
Jen Juneau,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The sophomore drove in Sydney Pollack, who laced her first of two doubles.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
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As the next generation of NFL stars showed up in style for football's big night, Jordyn Tyson laced up his older brother Jaylon Tyson's sneakers, which held a bit of their own sentimental sports history.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Dripping glitter, shimmering adhesive crystals, dramatic slashes of eyeliner and smudges of eyeshadow—there was a playful, shifting experimentalism here, to signal the young characters’ changeability and ingenuity.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
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The collection, sold exclusively at Ulta starting April 29, includes glitter, glitter and more glitter, obviously.—
Hedy Phillips,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On Israel, which fringes on both the Left and the Right have increasingly abandoned, Gallego questioned those who want to defund defensive support to the Middle Eastern nation.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Apr. 2026
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The world’s continents are fringed by vast expanses of sand and mud.—
David George Haskell,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Prettygarden Off-the-Shoulder Eyelet Mini Dress Reese Witherspoon’s spring wardrobe has become synonymous with pretty eyelet embroidery, and this off-the-shoulder dress fits right into the sweet, elegant vibe.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
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The group met with fashion designers who contributed pieces to the show and students from King’s Foundation’s Chanel and Le 19M Métiers d’Art programs in embroidery, millinery, and atelier studies.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Clever directorial touches garland the musical like filigree.—
Theater Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Attach to the mantle, tree, or garland with the tails of the string.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Filigree.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/filigree. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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