ornament 1 of 2

ornament

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ornament different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of ornament are adorn, beautify, deck, decorate, embellish, and garnish. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original.

a white house ornamented with green shutters

When is it sensible to use adorn instead of ornament?

The synonyms adorn and ornament are sometimes interchangeable, but adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself.

a diamond necklace adorned her neck

How are the words beautify and embellish related as synonyms of ornament?

Beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

When might deck be a better fit than ornament?

In some situations, the words deck and ornament are roughly equivalent. However, deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

In what contexts can decorate take the place of ornament?

While in some cases nearly identical to ornament, decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

When can embellish be used instead of ornament?

The words embellish and ornament are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

Where would garnish be a reasonable alternative to ornament?

Although the words garnish and ornament have much in common, garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.

an entrée garnished with parsley

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ornament
Noun
Stock up on tea towels, All Saints’ Chapel Mugs, stickers, ornaments, and all sorts of unique Sewanee souvenirs, many of which are emblazoned with the Sewanee Angel. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025 Thus, gilt has been applied to all manner of ornaments and architectural detailing in the homes of the historical well-to-do. Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Its spa-like en suite is ornamented by Italian marble with black highlight inserts from Spain, two separate vanities, a steam shower, a separate tub and bountiful storage. Karen A. Avitabile, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2025 Later, during an extensive renovation, officials recognized the worth of ornamenting the building and thus the value of Ezekiel’s statues. Samantha Baskind, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ornament
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ornament
Noun
  • The festivities included a catered spread of food, themed decorations and a special gift from the brand.
    Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Keep scrolling for more Halloween decorations from Pottery Barn’s clearance section for up to 50% off.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Renovated cabins are decorated in a nostalgic mountain vibe, with plaids and wood tones reigning supreme.
    Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
  • For dessert was a chocolate cake with brown butter vanilla buttercream icing baked by Gaby Scelzo, decorated with baby blue ruffles and pink frosted roses.
    Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Born into postwar optimism in the mid-20th century, the movement favored steel, concrete, and insulated glass in defiance of ornamentation.
    Will Speros, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Barnsdall is home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s first Los Angeles commission, Hollyhock House, with its commanding monolithic forms, geometric ornamentation, and modern take on Mayan Revival architecture.
    R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Inside, walls are adorned with inlaid brass and white onyx mosaic, framing a three-dimensional image of Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, which is present in many RH Galleries and represents the RH design ethos.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Chicago Sky star forward Angel Reese is on the WNBA edition cover—an alt-product trend introduced in NBA 2K22 when former Sky star Candace Parker adorned a cover in honor of the WNBA’s 25th anniversary.
    Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Its scoop neck also creates space for a necklace stack (take it from us and amplify the beige-adjacent color with gold adornments).
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Sequin beads and delicate embroidery are some of the most common adornments–though feathers and fil-coupe are thrown in the mix from time to time, as well.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ornament.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ornament. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

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