as in decorative
serving to add beauty
the trim on Victorian houses is sometimes elaborately ornamental
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 ornamental
Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 8 June 2026
Lavender also has plenty of ornamental appeal with grayish-green leaves, which sometimes take on a feathery appearance, and bright purple flowers that linger through summer to the delight of pollinators.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026
Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 16 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for ornamental
Adjective
And when homeowners zhuzh up grass with invasive ornamental species like Callery pear or Amur honeysuckle, hungry and oblivious birds spread the seeds far and wide.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 8 June 2026
Lavender also has plenty of ornamental appeal with grayish-green leaves, which sometimes take on a feathery appearance, and bright purple flowers that linger through summer to the delight of pollinators.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026
Noun
The dry weather may lead to less plant material/weedy plants, which may increase the pressure on irrigated plants such as crops and ornamentals on which grasshoppers survive.
—Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 16 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for ornamental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ornamental
Adjective
-
Cabana has built an entire universe around pattern, color, and decorative exuberance, and this marbled wastebasket fits perfectly within that world.—
Jaha Nailah Avery,
Architectural Digest,
15 June 2026
-
By rethinking a product that has remained largely familiar across generations, the company aims to introduce new possibilities for consumers, installers, event planners, and the broader lighting community, expanding the conversation around what decorative lighting can become.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
These ornaments were originally intended to symbolize speed, elegance and technological optimism.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
In one clip, Horner could be seen holding a ring box that had been hung like an ornament on a Christmas tree.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
For American diners of diverse backgrounds, chop suey struck an enticing balance between novelty and decipherability, which propelled it to national popularity even as the US government moved to exclude Chinese laborers from entering the country in 1882.—
Ashley Rose Young,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 June 2026
-
As the weather continues to heat up—and 4th of July celebrations approach—the novelty of the season starts to fully settle in.—
Rebecca Norris,
InStyle,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
The differing nacho offerings come served in a souvenir FIFA soccer ball bowl.—
Tim Newcomb,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
There's also $5 Michelob Ultra drafts or $8 Casamigos margarita served in limited-edition World Cup souvenir cups.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Nearby Lost Art Jewelry sells handmade baubles by a master goldsmith.—
Shilo Urban,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
-
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
-
But so can characters pushing the knickknack/plaything boundary, like porcelain figurines and piggy banks.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
-
A lot of those people have Victoria Baumann and Charlie Moreton to thank, the father-daughter duo behind Victoria Essie Studio that produces fidget toys and other knickknacks out of their homes in North Carolina.—
Jennifer Liu
Valentina Duarte,
CNBC,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
The golden script and trinkets that increasingly adorn the West Wing.—
Dan Diamond,
Washington Post,
17 June 2026
-
As those trees died, some were processed into souvenirs such as pens and trinket boxes.—
Paul Eisenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ornamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ornamental. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
