DECK Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

deck 1 of 2

noun

ˈdek

Definition of deck next

as in balcony

a flat roofless structure attached to a building the family usually ate on the deck on summer evenings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

deck

2 of 2

verb

as in to decorate

to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming deck the halls with boughs of holly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

The Uno deck features pictures of the players on each card. —

Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025 The cantilevered rooftop deck is outfitted with a wet bar, ample seating space, and panoramic views, while a cascading terrace at the back of the house includes a shaded dining spot, a circular spa and a turquoise swimming pool, an outdoor shower, and a private dock with a boat lift. —

Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2025

Verb

In the Middle Ages, people took their pet squirrels for walks and decked them out in flashy accessories. —

The Atlantic Science Desk, The Atlantic, 28 Dec. 2024 Per Nielsen, overall TV usage has plummeted 44% since James and Curry decked the halls back in 2015, and the drop versus the comparable period a year ago is holding steady at -8%. —

Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deck

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck

Noun

The book also contains a scene in which the pop star, Oliver, tries to leap off a penthouse balcony while under the influence that a source said was based on a real incident involving Payne and Henry.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2025
Avendaño says the singer would talk about drinking a bottle of whiskey on performance nights with One Direction, and how the band would evade chaperones by leaving hotels via balconies to party.

— Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025