Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

ornament

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of ornament

something that decorates or beautifies
  • a collection of plaster gnomes used as lawn ornaments
Synonyms of ornament

adornment, beautifier, caparison, decoration, doodad, embellisher, embellishment, frill, garnish, garniture, ornamentation, setoff, trim
Words Related to ornament

apparel, bells and whistles, blazonry, bric-a-brac, chichi, emblazonry, filigree, finery

flounce, flourish, furbelow, ruffle

enhancement, enrichment, improvement

appliqué, embossment, embroidery, fancywork

bedizenment, gilt, glitter

design, figure, pattern

furnishings, regalia, trappings
Near Antonyms of ornament

blemish, defacement, disfigurement, scar

blot, spot, stain

ornament

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of ornament

to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming
  • Delicate crystal figurines ornament the mantel over the fireplace.
Synonyms of ornament

adorn, array, beautify, bedeck, bedizen, blazon, caparison, deck, decorate, do, do up, doll up, drape, dress, embellish, emblaze, emboss, enrich, fancify, fancy up, festoon, garnish, glitz (up), grace, gussy up, pretty (up), trim
Words Related to ornament

accessorize, dress up, trap, trick (out)

brighten, freshen, smarten, spruce (up)

boss, chase

braid, embroider, feather, figure, filigree, fillet, flounce, frill, fringe, furbelow, garland, hang, lace, ribbon, swag, wreathe

appliqué, gild, paint
Near Antonyms of ornament

simplify, streamline

bare, denude, dismantle, display, divest, expose, reveal, strip, uncover

uglify
Antonyms of ornament

blemish, deface, disfigure, mar, scar, spoil

Synonym Discussion of ornament

adorn, decorate, ornament, embellish, beautify, deck, garnish mean to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential. adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself.
    • a diamond necklace adorned her neck
decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.
    • decorate a birthday cake
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
, embellish often stressing the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.
    • embellish a page with floral borders
beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.
    • will beautify the grounds with flower beds
deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.
    • a house all decked out for Christmas
garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.
    • an entrée garnished with parsley

Learn More about ornament

  1. See words that rhyme with ornament Dictionary: Definition of ornament Spanish Central: Translation of ornament Nglish: Translation of ornament for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ornament for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ornament

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up ornament? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

loath

play

unwilling or reluctant

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. symbiote 'an organism living in symbiosis'

  2. charlatan 'faker or fraud'

  3. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  4. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  5. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-5adf93a49b0b2
The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

"In point" only lives in this phrase.

alt-5adf5d017e6bf
‘Sleight’ or ‘Slight’ of Hand?

Watch closely and be amazed.

alt-5ade0f1ca7a0c
'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

The distinction is clear (now).

image236659401
Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
Word Winder's CrossWinder
Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game