as in decorative
serving to add beauty
the trim on Victorian houses is sometimes elaborately ornamental
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ornament
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest
a collection of fragile ornamentals kept in a glass cabinet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ornamental
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Las Vegas passed a law in 2021 banning much of the valley’s ornamental turfgrass starting in 2027, and Phoenix wants to remove nonfunctional turfgrass from medians and business parks.
—Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 14 May 2026
News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
Mix edible plants with ornamentals There’s no rule that says your decorative containers can’t also be productive.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ornamental
Adjective
Every generous gesture, every supposedly respectful question, every delicate expression of complete fixation becomes quietly infected by the growing understanding that Cole sees Māori humanity itself as something ornamental.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Las Vegas passed a law in 2021 banning much of the valley’s ornamental turfgrass starting in 2027, and Phoenix wants to remove nonfunctional turfgrass from medians and business parks.
—Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 14 May 2026
Noun
Featuring four miles of trails, SDBG has the largest public bamboo collection in North America; gardens representing different regions and flora of the world; and demonstration gardens showcasing fruits and vegetables, water-smart ornamentals, and native plants.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
Mix edible plants with ornamentals There’s no rule that says your decorative containers can’t also be productive.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ornamental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ornamental
Adjective
-
The patterned density of Édouard Vuillard’s interiors turns decorative on a larger scale, becoming mere Nabi ornamentation in his screens and panels.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
The collection includes decorative pillows, too, in blush and olive velvet, plus the signature stripe in pink and dark brown.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
2 June 2026
Noun
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But early last Saturday evening, two bullets shattered the glass between displays of Christmas ornaments and dining plates.—
Matt Viser,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
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Since anybody recalled, the gate had been topped with decorative ornaments.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
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These six destinations stand out because street food isn’t a novelty there — it’s woven into daily life.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
-
Another novelty performer attempted to play songs using vegetables.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Noun
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If someone was caught, and murdered, scraps of their body were circulated as souvenirs and passed down through generations of white families as heirlooms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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The village boutiques scattered along the sloping cobblestone alleys are just a five-minute stroll away, and offer the standard unremarkable Provence souvenirs—traditional fabrics, yellow pottery, straw bags, and sweet-smelling soaps.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Nearby Lost Art Jewelry sells handmade baubles by a master goldsmith.—
Shilo Urban,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
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This is her 12-carat Ceylon sapphire, surrounded by 14 round diamonds on a platinum band—a bauble formerly owned by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
Noun
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From furniture to vases to kitchen bowls to knickknacks, vintage goods are interior design treasures, and their quality often holds up longer than new purchases.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
16 May 2026
-
In Lincolnwood, Ritu Uppal, the 60-year-old owner of a knickknack and home decor store, wishes decisionmakers would prioritize people who depend on malls more, rather than treat closures as business transactions.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps in imitation of the former occupant—known only through the photographs, books, textiles, and trinkets covering the walls and the floor—Liden sits topless at a piano.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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That said, there are dozens of helpful trinkets hidden throughout the landscape that can make certain challenges much simpler, such as improving your movement, aiding your attacks, or increasing your resilience.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ornamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ornamental. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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