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
There’s also an ornament on the bottle shaped like a locket with 24-karat gold that contains an obsidian cameo. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025 The event features nearly two dozen local artisans and small businesses selling their goods, ranging from ornaments, decor and jewelry to soaps, quilts and baked goods. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Both of their homes are ornamented with distinct lines of grass and dirt on them around 2-3 feet above the ground, a marker for how high the water rose. Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for ornament
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ornament
Noun
  • The museum embraces the town’s unique role as a final home after one’s life, showcasing everything from early-20th-century embalming equipment to the tombstones of 19th-century San Francisco residents — once sold in a Santa Cruz consignment shop and advertised as Halloween decorations.
    Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Some of these sites include more than one building with notable interior detailing or decorations.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Jen went into Dedication Night with a special boost, courtesy of husband Zac Affleck, who collected stories from fans and friends of how Jen has inspired them and decorated her trailer with them ahead of her performance.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Vintage photos decorate the walls and the extensive menu covers breakfast, lunch and dinner classics, from eggs Benedict and patty melts to floats and ice cream sundaes.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Cabinet Room of the White House has also gotten some golden ornamentation added.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The iconic theater, with its elaborate ornamentation, arcades, balconies and turrets, was built in the Spanish Baroque style.
    Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The shoes were crafted in olive green leather with subtle folding at the toe; a dainty bow adorned the vamp, while a relatively wide strap bearing the label’s name stretched across the foot.
    Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
  • She was elegantly dressed in a cream coat dress adorned with delicate embroidery, paired with matching heels and a coordinating clutch bag.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Trump has already made some other changes at the White House, like golden adornments in the Oval Office and a new patio in the Rose Garden, both of which mirror the aesthetic of his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
  • One of the simplest rituals of adornment in hoodoo traditions is our use of color!
    Essence, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ornament.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ornament. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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