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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of filigree
James Gui, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
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
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
In moments like these, KAVARI carves intricate filigrees out of monolithic blocks of sound, keeping the spiky moments from devolving into overly indulgent harsh noise (for fans of the latter, try her side project EEL BLOOD).
—James Gui, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
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
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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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
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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
Verb
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Mesquite and acacia trees ribbon the lower elevations, while Douglas firs and ponderosa pine line the upper reaches.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Attenborough communicated with the tribe using gestures, looked at their personal ornaments and enquired about the pegs in the ritual punctures in the nose of one of the men.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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When kuru’s vocals get more monotone, Backstage hologram ornaments the toplines with gorgeous digital keyboard parts that reference the crusty, low-res soundtracks of Nintendo DS-era RPGs like Pokemon Diamond & Pearl.—
Jude Noel,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Coup’s early records were pugnacious, laced with humor and some finger-wagging.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Cocktails are a mix of classic and inventive, with a carrot-ginger-turmeric juice laced with tequila gracing the Ninety Acres menu for fall and a martini paired with caviar in the Great Room.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Try putting disco balls in the centerpieces, making the place settings into flower crowns, and adding glitter confetti to the table.—
Kylie Petty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 May 2026
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From glitter tears to country music star glam, here are the 16 best Euphoria makeup looks of all time.—
Hannah Kerns,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
Verb
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But in 2015, that changed when the sea ice fringing this vast, icy continent stopped expanding and began to decline dramatically.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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The grounds have colonial and Victorian buildings, and lush grounds fringed with palm trees and excellent ocean views.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
Noun
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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
Verb
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In the meantime, brutal disappointment is our fate, as so much writing garlanded with praise upon publication stands revealed as shockingly feeble, even venal, confirming that our time had been darkening for decades before Donald Trump took power.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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Clever directorial touches garland the musical like filigree.—
Theater Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Filigree.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/filigree. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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