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
Half of the graves still held metal ornaments, according to the release. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2025 The collections are often narrative-driven, reflecting personal experiences and contextual themes that connect ornament with identity and critique. Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 5 June 2025
Verb
The 818 founder also revealed in her latest house tour with AD that Kris, 69, gifted her their family's original Christopher Radko ornaments. Dayna Haffenden, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024 Plus, if Saint Laurent’s spring/summer 2025 collection is any indication, businesslike ties will be ornamenting female necks next season. Monica Ainley, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for ornament
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ornament
Noun
  • Along with a glimmering Christmas display of ornaments and decorations, the Guamans have collections of garden and holiday gnomes.
    Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
  • For some, July 4th gatherings focus on fireworks, games, and decorations.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • The 10-screen theater at the Village at San Antonio Center is decorated with robot toys, a wall of movie posters featuring robots and even has Dumbots, an upstairs lounge with a name inspired by some of the less-intelligent bots in movie history.
    Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 21 June 2025
  • Local businesses and local kids alike decorate cars, bikes, and even golf carts, giving the parade a true everybody-knows-everybody vibe.
    Heather Bien, Southern Living, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Their handbags would be architectural in shape, sleek and spare of overwrought ornamentation.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2025
  • The Raw Edition from Copenhagen Distillery is a clear statement of intent, avoiding ornamentation and putting instead process and material at the forefront.
    Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • Roth will spend the next week rehearsing, but has arrived at our meeting dressed très chic in a Dries Van Noten ivory top with sculptural pleating, a black straight skirt and pointed heels from Saint Laurent, and a small bag adorned with a Claude Lalanne bronze flower.
    Amy Verner, Vogue, 1 July 2025
  • The pop-up, located on the ground floor, will offer several customization services, where clients can choose to have accessories adorned with lucky symbols such as stars, bees and shamrocks.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Both were for the young, the inexperienced, and for people whose reality was dull enough and sturdy enough to make fantasy or imagination a desirable escape or a necessary adornment.
    Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
  • The Row arguably makes our favorite luxury version for everyday, with strappy detailing and a jewel-like adornment.
    Lara Oliveri, Vogue, 10 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ornament.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ornament. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ornament

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