How to Use carnation in a Sentence

carnation

noun
  • The groom wore a carnation in his buttonhole.
  • In the spring, a carnation grows on the spot where his body lies.
    — Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2020
  • Some carnations, still pink, lay on the ground next to a dumpster.
    — Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2023
  • Each wore a white carnation — a symbol of a good life and a good career.
    — Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star, 9 Mar. 2018
  • Left along the Wall were tiny flags, carnations and a zip-top bag of popcorn.
    — Michael Laris, Washington Post, 28 May 2018
  • The Stones never looked so geeky, what with our polyester suits and carnations.
    — David K. Israel, WIRED, 5 Sep. 2012
  • There were carnations on the table.
    — Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Vases filled with blue and white carnations serve as backdrop.
    — Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
  • The second includes a hot pink rose, light pink mums, dark red-and-pink carnations, and lilies.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Violet and carnation are the two florals, both of which have their own fans.
    — Jesse Dart, Bon Appetit, 20 June 2018
  • Her left hand, wrapped up in orange and red fabric like a carnation, glides across the railing.
    — Steff Yotka, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2019
  • The first features a pink rose, ruffled pink carnations, and yellow and white mums.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The latter’s portrait, a painting with a white carnation on his suit lapel, hangs over the court.
    — Jayda Evans, The Seattle Times, 21 Jan. 2018
  • Who's got a fist full o'Natty, no sleeves and a carnation pink cummerbund?
    — Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, 25 May 2018
  • Rather, the hopes of the many in an open field will linger over the track in advance of the race for a blanket of white carnations.
    — Tim Balk, SI.com, 9 June 2017
  • Dye white carnations green with food coloring and leave a bouquet on the table.
    — Amanda Rock, Parents, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Dye white carnations green with food coloring and leave a bouquet on the table.
    — Amanda Rock, Parents, 30 July 2024
  • Dye white carnations green with food coloring and leave a bouquet on the table.
    — Amanda Rock, Parents, 16 Mar. 2026
  • The last bouquet includes two shades of pink roses, pink carnations with white edges, and pink, white, and peach mums.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Secure the tail by your ear with a few bobby pins, then pop-in a scattering of bright red carnations.
    — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, 12 Apr. 2018
  • Not a true moss, Irish moss is a ground cover related to carnations.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Roses and lilies and daffodils and carnations and hydrangea and balloons and flags.
    — Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati.com, 16 Feb. 2018
  • The prince, who is wearing a red carnation in his lapel, leaves his police guard to chat with people who have lined up along the route.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2023
  • The school also raised money through a carnation sale in February and a dress-down day.
    — Ingrid Schaefer Sprague, cleveland.com, 5 June 2017
  • Maybe pass on giving your French girlfriend the purple carnations and try a nice red instead.
    — Lianna Matt, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2017
  • Inside the box this time, nestled in tissue paper, was a navy-blue dress with white polka dots and a red carnation broach.
    — Marc Myers, WSJ, 27 Sep. 2022
  • This is a photo of 3 carnations that our dear friends @majestyblack brought us tonight after our rehearsal and soundcheck.
    — Krystin Arneson, Glamour, 3 June 2018
  • January has two birth flowers—the carnation and the snowdrop.
    — Irene Richardson, Country Living, 1 Jan. 2023
  • While many cultures have different meanings for carnations, the most common one is love.
    — Jenny Krane, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
  • The uniformed officers formed yet one last line, dropping their carnations on the casket.
    — Maureen C. Gilmer, Indianapolis Star, 9 Mar. 2018

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carnation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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