as in decorative
serving to add beauty
the chef tends to overuse sprigs of parsley and other embellishing garnishes on dishes that don't need them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in exaggerating
to add to the interest of by including made-up details
the story of the comic marriage proposal was embellished as it passed from one generation to the next in the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decorating
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming
the walls of the French restaurant are embellished with scenes of Parisian life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of embellishing
ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
While heading to a Late Show With Stephen Colbert appearance with the White Stripes frontman, Scarlett showed off her effortless transitional season style in an olive green jacket with rows of large gold buttons embellishing the front.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
Many arias from the 1800s include repeated verses to give the singers the opportunity to show off their coloratura skills by embellishing the sections of the songs the second time around.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Like the pharaohs and emperors of antiquity, the president weaponizes the past to justify his present actions and future plans, omitting and embellishing events of yesteryear to fit a bellicose agenda.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Like Frey, Lowell was a self-dramatizing fraudster, taking elements of her real life and grandly embellishing them.
—Michael Waters, New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2026
Many fans of the NBA today believe there are too many whistles, players embellishing for fouls, and superstar players conga lining to the free-throw line.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
In Babylonian and Assyrian artworks, too, feathers are often seen covering the bodies of deities or embellishing royal crowns.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
That calls for a little extra creativity from its mom — and the movie’s narrator (Emilia Clarke) — who wriggles her mandibles and gets to work embellishing upon what Dahl imagined.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
In online chats with ADF members in Cameroon, Chungag falsely claimed to have combat experience in Iraq but appeared to be embellishing his military background to raise his profile in the group, the affidavit says.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
While heading to a Late Show With Stephen Colbert appearance with the White Stripes frontman, Scarlett showed off her effortless transitional season style in an olive green jacket with rows of large gold buttons embellishing the front.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
Many arias from the 1800s include repeated verses to give the singers the opportunity to show off their coloratura skills by embellishing the sections of the songs the second time around.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Like the pharaohs and emperors of antiquity, the president weaponizes the past to justify his present actions and future plans, omitting and embellishing events of yesteryear to fit a bellicose agenda.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Like Frey, Lowell was a self-dramatizing fraudster, taking elements of her real life and grandly embellishing them.
—Michael Waters, New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2026
Many fans of the NBA today believe there are too many whistles, players embellishing for fouls, and superstar players conga lining to the free-throw line.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
In Babylonian and Assyrian artworks, too, feathers are often seen covering the bodies of deities or embellishing royal crowns.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
That calls for a little extra creativity from its mom — and the movie’s narrator (Emilia Clarke) — who wriggles her mandibles and gets to work embellishing upon what Dahl imagined.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellishing
Adjective
-
Interiors by Studio Architetto Mar, balance historic character with refined updates, highlighted by two reception rooms, a formal dining room, and a spacious chef’s kitchen dressed in decorative wallpaper.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
28 Apr. 2026
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The best luxury bath towels also feature decorative accents like embroidery and monogramming to elevate your washroom’s aesthetic.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But in early 2024, a short seller accused it of exaggerating the role of artificial intelligence in its business model, leading to a class action lawsuit and a 30% drop in its share price.—
Perrie M. Weiner,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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Iranian hackers boasted online of the hacks against Patel and the medical device maker while exaggerating their impact.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As a bonus, hikers can sneak a peek at the mini-mansions nestled in the hills and take in the desert-chic flora and fauna decorating the trail.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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The thrift store can be a treasure trove of gorgeous pieces of artwork, perfect for decorating your living room walls.—
Nina Derwin,
Martha Stewart,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For gardeners with lower humidity, ornamental oregano makes a stunning solo planting.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Place the bar of soap inside a mesh bag or a single sock, then hang it from the branches of fruit trees, ornamental shrubs, or a garden fence.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some activities aligned with a slower approach could include baking, gardening, sitting with your kids and talking or coloring rather than looking at a screen, and putting comfort first.—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
11 Apr. 2026
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Each cookie has cheery yellow petals and a magenta center, with coloring strictly derived from vegetable juices.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But those are, in the rearview, mere filigree adorning the few tender years in which Richie retained absolute authorship of love’s true rapture.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
These are clutter-free spaces, cool and calming with occasional nods to Moroccan heritage in the form of black-and-white photography of Rabat’s heritage sites in the rooms, and handmade plates adorning walls in the corridors.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Without any workplace oversight, the baristas did the obvious, padding their breaks by ten, fifteen, twenty minutes.—
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Two silhouettes caught on grainy security cameras, padding through a massive, empty aqua park lit only by whatever ambient light existed.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fragrant blue-green foliage is accented by unique flowers reminiscent of hops, with papery, rose-pink bracts draping the plant all summer.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The star's honey blonde hair was swept up into a twist at the top of her head with a long ponytail draping down and a few tendrils framing her face.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embellishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellishing. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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