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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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
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One of the White House’s most compelling features has always been its domestic scale and ornamentation.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 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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What remains in a lot of these tracks, then, are dazzling little ornaments.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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Buchanan laced a one-out single and came around on a two-out Colt Howard double as the Lions added another run in the bottom of the second.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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But eventually, the anger ebbed; replaced by an all-too-familiar ache of grief laced with longing.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The glitter heart design features durable, flake-free glitter that doesn’t rub off or leave behind a trail.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Attendees can enjoy bounce houses, face painting, glitter tattoos and more.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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At Cala Cavone—a jut of rock fringed with crashing waves—self-service loungers, espresso, and snacks are stored in an alcove in the cliff.—
Kristina Kasparian,
Travel + Leisure,
15 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
Verb
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Clever directorial touches garland the musical like filigree.—
Theater Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
4 Jan. 2026
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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 3 Apr. 2026.
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