1
as in ornamentation
something that decorates or beautifies
a colorful mobile is just the embellishment that the soon-to-be nursery needs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
the actor's penchant for embellishment suggests that his memoirs would be more appropriately shelved in the fiction section
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of embellishment
The dress also featured feather embellishments on her hip and shoulder.
—
Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
Right Now Nordstrom: This sleeveless midi dress with a pretty bow embellishment is ready for your next special occasion, and 60 percent off.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Little side stories, embellishments, enlargements — and part of ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ is described in that.
—Andy Hazel, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
This grand reveal, which transmutes McEwen from fact into embellishment, doesn’t undermine Spark’s mythology so much as solidify it.
—Audrey Wollen, New Yorker, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for embellishment
Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
Right Now Nordstrom: This sleeveless midi dress with a pretty bow embellishment is ready for your next special occasion, and 60 percent off.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Little side stories, embellishments, enlargements — and part of ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ is described in that.
—Andy Hazel, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
This grand reveal, which transmutes McEwen from fact into embellishment, doesn’t undermine Spark’s mythology so much as solidify it.
—Audrey Wollen, New Yorker, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for embellishment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellishment
Noun
-
From there, the ornamentation strips back, room by room, evolving with the narrative of the album.—
Angela Tafoya,
Architectural Digest,
29 May 2026
-
It is surrounded by appliqué ornamentation reflecting the decorative arts of each culture and an ornate frieze around the periphery.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are a number of driving forces behind this excited exaggeration.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
This description of a county board doing the bidding of county unions is not an exaggeration.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Since anybody recalled, the gate had been topped with decorative ornaments.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
At the end of the eighteenth century, the West’s power brokers, eager to exude stolid republican virtue, abjured decoration and ornament, sparking what the British psychologist John Flügel called the Great Masculine Renunciation.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
That distinction matters because the caricature of the intelligent overthinker is often wrong.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
This was the man, not the caricature that Red Wings rivalry often framed him as.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Vows unfold against sweeping views of downtown Phoenix and the red rock of Papago, so decorations can stay minimal.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
31 May 2026
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And throughout the cruise, Joie de Vivre, with its chic salons inspired by 20th-century Parisian design and all decked out in festive decorations, anchored the experience in an undeniable sense of place.—
Chrissie McClatchie,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Across the 2026 and 2027 bridal collections, there’s been a notable emphasis on intricate savoir-faire, with designers embracing the charm of handmade workmanship, including delicate weaves, openwork textures, and crochet-effect embroideries as couture-level details.—
Laura Tortora,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
-
Choose from embroidery or UV printing to make your suitcase easy to spot on the luggage carousel and even more special to you.—
Meaghan Kenny,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Creeping Jenny and a selection of peachy annual flowers add adornment to the base.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
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Elisabeth wore a traditional cap and gown, accessorizing with a Belgian flag adornment worn around her neck for the milestone.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Anyone looking for lagoon enhancements a little sooner can watch for a smaller, separate restoration project coming from the Buena Vista Audubon Society.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
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Importantly, the enhancement came without increasing average power, reducing the risk of thermal or structural damage.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Embellishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellishment. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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