elaborate (on)

Definition of elaborate (on)next
1
as in to exaggerate
to add to the interest of by including made-up details my friend tends to elaborate on his hiking experiences, turning an ordinary walk in the woods into a hair-raising adventure

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2
as in to develop
to express more fully and in greater detail the candidate for governor refused to elaborate on how she would balance the state's budget

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate (on)
Verb
  • Someone could leave out important details, exaggerate or accidentally confuse you without meaning to.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
  • The league decided to introduce postgame flop fines in the 2012-13 season where plays were reviewed after games and those individuals were fined for exaggerating contact.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • These dogs may rub their eyes excessively due to discomfort and corneal ulcers can also develop.
    Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
  • Parking for the new facility would be on a portion of the land that cannot be developed because of the safety zone.
    Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • They shouldn’t be allowed to use their refunds to pad their profits while continuing to keep their prices high for hardworking Americans.
    Linda Sánchez, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
  • Kacie Hoffmann padded the lead with a two-run homer to right in the fourth and Ava Kuszak added a solo shot to left in the sixth.
    Daily News, Daily News, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • There are numerous suites in the mix that expand upon the space, and anyone booking an executive category room enjoys access to the 25th-floor club lounge.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • Together, the movements reflected an apparent effort to insulate some of Iran's remaining military and aviation assets from the expanding conflict, even as officials publicly served as brokers for de-escalation.
    James LaPorta, CBS News, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • Even so, adding small amounts of diluted milk to the soil may help supplement calcium and provide trace nutrients.
    Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 11 May 2026
  • For example, journalists at The New York Times use AI to supplement their work while also acknowledging the potential sloppiness of such tools and need for experts and journalists to do the work.
    Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 8 May 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Elaborate (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate%20%28on%29. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

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