ADORN Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'adorn' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of adorn are beautify , deck , decorate , embellish , garnish , and ornament . While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself. // a diamond necklace adorned her neck

Q: How do 'beautify' and 'embellish' relate to one another, in the sense of 'adorn'?

Beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness. // will beautify the grounds with flower beds

Q: In what contexts can 'deck' take the place of 'adorn'?

The synonyms deck and adorn are sometimes interchangeable, but deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness. // a house all decked out for Christmas

Q: When is 'decorate' a more appropriate choice than 'adorn'?

Although the words decorate and adorn have much in common, decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design. // decorate a birthday cake

Q: Where would 'embellish' be a reasonable alternative to 'adorn'?

The words embellish and adorn are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament. // embellish a page with floral borders

Q: When is it sensible to use 'garnish' instead of 'adorn'?

While in some cases nearly identical to adorn , garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food. // an entrée garnished with parsley

Q: How are the words 'ornament' and 'embellish' related as synonyms of 'adorn'?

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

adorn

verb

ə-ˈdȯrn

Definition of adorn next

as in to decorate

to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming the Sultan's tent was richly adorned with thick tapestries and gleaming gold candlesticks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Some common synonyms of adorn are beautify, deck, decorate, embellish, garnish, and ornament. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself.

a diamond necklace adorned her neck

How do beautify and embellish relate to one another, in the sense of adorn?

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

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

In what contexts can deck take the place of adorn?

The synonyms deck and adorn are sometimes interchangeable, but deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

When is decorate a more appropriate choice than adorn?

Although the words decorate and adorn have much in common, decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

Where would embellish be a reasonable alternative to adorn?

The words embellish and adorn are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

When is it sensible to use garnish instead of adorn?

While in some cases nearly identical to adorn, 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 are the words ornament and embellish related as synonyms of adorn?

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

Examples of adorn in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Recent Examples on the Web Gigi is the proprietor of the family shop, stocked with expensive bags and dresses she’s procured through international business connections, its walls adorned with incongruous revolutionary iconography. —

Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024 The often multi-layered alters honoring the dead are adorned with flowers and bright colors. —

Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 31 Oct. 2024 Additionally, lamp posts are adorned with shamrocks – Ireland’s unofficial symbol – though those are more clearly visible in an uncropped, higher-resolution version of the image. —

Joedy McCreary, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024 Hello Kitty, the cute, enigmatic character that adorns everything from handbags to rice cookers, turns 50 on Friday — and is still making millions for her Japanese creators. —

Paula Ramon, Fortune Asia, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for adorn