deck 1 of 2

Definition of decknext
as in balcony
a flat roofless structure attached to a building the family usually ate on the deck on summer evenings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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deck

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word deck different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of deck are adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish, garnish, and ornament. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

When can adorn be used instead of deck?

In some situations, the words adorn and deck are roughly equivalent. However, 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 deck?

Beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

When could decorate be used to replace deck?

The meanings of decorate and deck largely overlap; however, decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

When is embellish a more appropriate choice than deck?

The synonyms embellish and deck are sometimes interchangeable, but embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

Where would garnish be a reasonable alternative to deck?

While the synonyms garnish and deck are close in meaning, garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.

an entrée garnished with parsley

How do ornament and embellish relate to one another, in the sense of deck?

Both 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

How is the word deck different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of deck are adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish, garnish, and ornament. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

When can adorn be used instead of deck?

In some situations, the words adorn and deck are roughly equivalent. However, 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 deck?

Beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

When could decorate be used to replace deck?

The meanings of decorate and deck largely overlap; however, decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

When is embellish a more appropriate choice than deck?

The synonyms embellish and deck are sometimes interchangeable, but embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

Where would garnish be a reasonable alternative to deck?

While the synonyms garnish and deck are close in meaning, garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.

an entrée garnished with parsley

How do ornament and embellish relate to one another, in the sense of deck?

Both 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

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 deck
Noun
Before him, Romy — also fresh off a Coachella appearance with her band The xx — and DJ Mez Monty took turns at the decks. Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Apr. 2026 Ecuadorian hot chocolate—offered after snorkeling in the marina or paired with espresso back on deck—also became a daily indulgence for me. David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Mila 2 Luxe is a dual-sided 1X/10X mirror fully decked out in diamond-cut crystals. Tory Johnson, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026 There are private pools and decking featuring hammocks, sun loungers with umbrellas, a large swing, and areas to sit, eat, and chat as a group, and a Big Green Egg barbecue grill. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck
Noun
  • Large British and American flags, held by honor guard members, are lining the stairs of the White House that lead up from the residential entrance to the Truman balcony.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The incident occurred on the Carnival Firenze, which was off the Southern California coast when the female guest went over the balcony of her stateroom and landed on a lower deck, the cruise line confirmed to Fox News Digital.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Cakes big and small are the ideal stage for your wildest decorating dreams.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Each of the suites are decorated with the same Mediterranean style and have private patios and balconies perfect for watching the sunset.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • He was found a short time later under a porch nearby, still nude with his hospital gown and a 10mm handgun, prosecutors said.
    Darius Johnson, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Try combining several varieties with similar needs, and experiment to find the best mix for your porch or patio.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Families flock to the Cape for mini-golfing, traipsing around sand dunes, comparing ice cream stands, gobbling up lobster rolls, spotting whales, and simply admiring the gray cedar shake houses adorned with colorful buoys.
    Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
  • For her first solo outing with granddaughter-in-law Meghan Markle in June 2018, the Queen chose a lime green suit dress by Stewart Parvin with a matching hat adorned with flowers.
    Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Insider tip When it’s not booked for a private event, the 17th floor has a quiet terrace for sightseeing.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Outside, there’s a 50-foot infinity pool, spa, terraces, and a full outdoor kitchen, along with a private basketball court that ties back to the character’s athletic background.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The cones, draped in black paper ribbons, represent every Caltrans highway maintenance and construction worker who died on the job since 1921.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The Maxwells' home was draped in a purple banner with yellow ribbons.
    Mark Prussin, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Regularly trim ground cover plants around trees.
    Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Revisions also have trimmed 69,000 jobs from December and January payrolls, a sign that the labor market remains under strain.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deck. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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