embellish
verb
transitive verb
Did you know?
Embellish is related to the French word for "beautiful," bel, and, traditionally, it has been used to imply beautifying an object with the addition of things unessential. That's still true; however, it is equally appealing as an adjective for making statements or stories sound more entertaining.
Synonyms
- color
- elaborate (on)
- embroider
- exaggerate
- hyperbolize
- magnify
- pad
- stretch
Example Sentences
Terri Robertson, Country Living, 22 Aug. 2022 Her lie is profound and hurtful; don’t tempt her to embellish further or to put her own spin on these long-ago events. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 19 Aug. 2022 Her lie is profound and hurtful; don’t tempt her to embellish further or to put her own spin on these long-ago events. Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 19 Aug. 2022 Her lie is profound and hurtful; don’t tempt her to embellish further or to put her own spin on these long-ago events. Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2022 Her lie is profound and hurtful; don’t tempt her to embellish further or to put her own spin on these long-ago events. Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 19 Aug. 2022 More than 30 different types of Statuario marble have been used in the walls and flooring throughout the hotel, and 1,790sqm of 24carat gold leaf was used to embellish the interior. Roger Sands, Forbes, 6 July 2022 My days consisted of recording bombastic diatribes at his studio in Austin, Texas, or traveling the world to embellish, misrepresent and manufacture stories to suit his biases. Josh Owens, CNN, 12 June 2022 In addition to the sparkly belly, this mom-to-be also used rhinestone stickers to embellish her face. Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 13 June 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Anglo-French embeliss-, stem of embelir, from en- + bel beautiful — more at beauty
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
embellish
verb
embellish
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- exaggerate
- embroider
- enhance
- pad
- color
- hyperbolize
- expand
- satirize
- stretch
- magnify
- emphasize
- amplify
- overdo
- overemphasize
- elaborate (on)
- overstate
- gussy up
- overplay
- play up
- fudge
- caricature
- hedge
- overdraw
- stress
- dress up
- flesh (out)
- enlarge (on or upon)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- minimize
- understate
- belittle
- play down
Synonyms & Similar Words
- decorate
- adorn
- drape
- beautify
- trim
- ornament
- enrich
- dress
- paint
- garnish
- festoon
- emboss
- deck
- bedeck
- grace
- fancify
- do
- array
- caparison
- blazon
- doll up
- gussy up
- bedizen
- embroider
- accessorize
- emblaze
- brighten
- glitz (up)
- fancy up
- freshen
- do up
- pretty (up)
- ribbon
- gild
- filigree
- garland
- trap
- appliqué
- smarten
- chase
- dress up
- braid
- hang
- fringe
- frill
- lace
- figure
- wreathe
- fillet
- flounce
- jewel
- boss
- swag
- feather
- diamond
- redo
- trick (out)
- pearl
- furbelow
- redecorate
- gem
- spruce (up)
- impearl
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disfigure
- spoil
- simplify
- reveal
- deface
- streamline
- display
- scar
- expose
- mar
- uncover
- strip
- dismantle
- bare
- blemish
- denude
- divest
- uglify
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of embellish are adorn, beautify, deck, decorate, garnish, and ornament. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.
Although the words adorn and embellish have much in common, adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself.
Beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.
The words deck and embellish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.
The synonyms decorate and embellish are sometimes interchangeable, but decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.
The meanings of garnish and embellish largely overlap; however, garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.
Both ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original.