embellish
verb
em·bel·lish im-ˈbe-lish 
embellished; embellishing; embellishes
transitive verb
1
: to make beautiful with ornamentation : decorate
a book embellished with illustrations
2
: to heighten the attractiveness of by adding decorative or fanciful details : enhance
embellished our account of the trip
embellisher noun
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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a book embellished with colorful illustrations He embellished his speech with a few quotations.
Recent Examples on the Web Fashion a dress from red-and-white gingham fabric (or simply buy one), and embellish it with paper plates, kids’ faux foods, and utensils. 
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
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
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French embeliss-, stem of embelir, from en- + bel beautiful — more at beauty
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
embellish
verb
em·bel·lish im-ˈbe-lish
embellished; embellishing
: decorate sense 1
Artwork embellished the book.
embellished 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in embroidered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- embroidered
- enlarged
- padded
- stretched
- elaborated
- exaggerated
- overplayed
- overstated
- magnified
- overemphasized
- inflated
- overdone
- overblown
- hyperbolized
- overdrawn
- hyped-up
- outsized
- bloated
- outsize
- grandiose
- unrealistic
- unreal
- preposterous
- unreasonable
- overweening
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reasonable
- realistic
2
as in decorated
Synonyms & Similar Words
- decorated
- adorned
- ornamented
- trimmed
- dressed
- beautified
- garnished
- decked
- enriched
- bedecked
- arrayed
- elaborate
- lacy
- flowery
- frilly
- enhanced
- glitzy
- gaudy
- showy
- garish
- tawdry
- heightened
- intensified
- swank
- bedaubed
- extreme
- ornate
- flashy
- ostentatious
- swanky
- loud
- spectacular
- pretentious
- flamboyant
- bedizened
- overwrought
- baroque
- extravagant
- gingerbread
- overdecorated
- rococo
- arabesque
- florid
- gingerbreaded
- splashy
- gingerbready
- privileged
- in the chips
- fussy
- advantaged
- blessed
- blest
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stripped
- exposed
- uncovered
- simple
- naked
- plain
- modest
- understated
- bare
- restrained
- muted
- subdued
- tasteful
- unadorned
- conservative
- unassuming
- denuded
- quiet
- unobtrusive
- unpretentious
- severe
- stark
- austere
- deprived
- reduced
- pinched
- ruined
- short
- indebted
- toned-down
- disadvantaged
- bankrupt
- depressed
- broke
- insolvent
- underprivileged
- low
- unaffluent
- pauperized
- impoverished
- poor
- beggared
- bankrupted
- penniless
- straitened
- destitute
- needy
- indigent
- impecunious
- skint
- penurious
- hand-to-mouth
- poverty-stricken
embellished
2 of 2verb
1
as in exaggerated
to add to the interest of by including made-up details the story of the comic marriage proposal was embellished as it passed from one generation to the next in the family Synonyms & Similar Words
- exaggerated
- padded
- embroidered
- colored
- enhanced
- hyperbolized
- expanded
- stretched
- satirized
- magnified
- emphasized
- amplified
- gussied up
- elaborated (on)
- overstated
- caricatured
- fudged
- overemphasized
- hedged
- overplayed
- stressed
- played up
- dressed up
- fleshed (out)
- overdid
- overdrew
- enlarged (on or upon)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- understated
- minimized
- belittled
- played down
2
as in adorned
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming the walls of the French restaurant are embellished with scenes of Parisian life Synonyms & Similar Words
- adorned
- decorated
- draped
- ornamented
- embossed
- trimmed
- enriched
- painted
- beautified
- dressed
- garnished
- festooned
- decked
- graced
- bedizened
- embroidered
- bedecked
- gussied up
- blazoned
- fancified
- arrayed
- caparisoned
- accessorized
- emblazed
- glitzed (up)
- dolled up
- brightened
- did
- appliquéd
- gilded
- did up
- fringed
- fancied up
- prettied (up)
- filigreed
- jeweled
- ribboned
- trapped
- braided
- freshened
- garlanded
- frilled
- flounced
- gilt
- laced
- smartened
- dressed up
- swagged
- chased
- feathered
- wreathed
- filleted
- hung
- gemmed
- pearled
- bossed
- figured
- tricked (out)
- jewelled
- redecorated
- impearled
- spruced (up)
- diamonded
- hanged
- furbelowed
- redid
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- marred
- disfigured
- scarred
- simplified
- defaced
- spoilt
- stripped
- exposed
- streamlined
- displayed
- blemished
- spoiled
- revealed
- uncovered
- denuded
- dismantled
- divested
- bared
- uglified
- stript