ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

1

: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style

is clear and simple rather than ornate and pompous

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

2

: elaborately or excessively decorated

an ornate mantle

an ornate townhouse

ornate chandeliers

ornately adverb

ornateness noun

Synonyms

• bedizened
• florid
• fussy
• gingerbread
• gingerbreaded
• gingerbready
• overdecorated
• overwrought

Examples of ornate in a Sentence

She doesn't like ornate jewelry.

an ornate gambling casino that is designed to look like an Italian palace

Recent Examples on the Web

Guests still gaze up in awe at the ornate ceilings, and take photos of the massive flower arrangement in the lobby. —Thomas Swick, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2025

The hand-sewn beading, meanwhile, was just as ornate. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 6 May 2025

Countess Vittoria commissioned the space to be elaborately decorated in silk and brocades with ornate plasterwork ceilings. —Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 5 May 2025

That ceiling has 160 ornate stalactites, which look like nothing so much as upside-down meringues. —Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ornat, from Latin ornatus, past participle of ornare to furnish, embellish; akin to Latin ordo order — more at order

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ornate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

: decorated in a fancy way

ornately adverb

ornateness noun