elaborate 1 of 2

adjective

i-ˈla-b(ə-)rət How to pronounce elaborate (audio)
Definition of elaboratenext
1
as in detailed
made or done with great care or with much detail elaborate festivities for the 200th anniversary of the town's founding

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2
as in thorough
including many small descriptive features the elaborate world known as Middle Earth that J.R.R. Tolkien created in his richly imagined novels

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3
as in intricate
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated plans for a huge mall that will actually be an elaborate center for sports, entertainment, and shopping

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elaborate

2 of 2

verb

i-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt How to pronounce elaborate (audio)
as in to unfold
to gradually become clearer or more detailed as mankind's understanding of the universe has elaborated

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of elaborate
Adjective
This game preserves the difficulty of coming up with an elaborate, consistent false narrative on the spot, and the challenge of adapting that narrative on the fly when other players present convincing (and sometimes fake) counter-evidence. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 30 June 2026 While tailoring will always remain important, consumers are becoming much more selective, prioritizing versatility and comfort over elaborate styling. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 29 June 2026
Verb
When the Observer asked for more details about what that might look like, the church declined to elaborate on its future at the Morrison YMCA. — Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2026 Buster Posey, the Giants’ president of baseball operations, also declined to elaborate on the organization’s cap stance. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for elaborate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate
  1. detailed
  2. thorough
  3. intricate
  4. unfold
  5. complicated
  6. full
  7. complicate
  8. evolve
Adjective
  • Attached to it is a giant camera capable of capturing a new, detailed image roughly every 40 seconds, combining speed, sensitivity and an exceptionally wide field of view unmatched by any other ground- or space-based telescope.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • At Moderna's Science Day last Thursday, Cramer said the company presented a detailed roadmap for the next decade that highlighted its growing cancer pipeline alongside newer vaccine programs beyond its Covid franchise.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 1 July 2026
Definition of detailed
Adjective
  • Each specimen was weighed and put in the same-sized containers filled with superworm larvae to determine the optimal ratio of larvae to specimen for thorough cleaning without damaging bones.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026
  • Those subtle cues usually reveal whether housekeeping is thorough or simply surface-level.
    — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
Definition of thorough
Adjective
  • Alabama man creates intricate America 250 lawn art In Trussville, Alabama, one homeowner turned his front yard into a patriotic canvas.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Her custom ceremony Galia Lahav dress was designed with intricate lace details and an exaggerated silhouette at the hips.
    — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Definition of intricate
Verb
  • Cloud cover prevented a California Highway Patrol helicopter from reaching the injured climber directly, forcing the rescue to unfold in stages.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Hours later, as the bodies of the children were being handed over to their families, scenes of anguish unfolded outside hospitals and in the neighborhood on the outskirts of Lahore where the private tutoring center was located in a house.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Definition of unfold
Adjective
  • Anticipation for the milestone holiday has been building for much of the year, serving as an opportunity for Americans to reflect on their complicated history as onetime colonists of an empire who became a superpower of their own.
    — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • The study authors caution that the model should be applied carefully to more complicated perovskites in which structural changes and dielectric effects occur simultaneously.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
Definition of complicated
Adjective
  • But Claus also did not see anything on the field, at full speed, to warrant a card at all, let alone a red.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Knoxville goalkeeper Johan Garibay stole a Boise goal in the 37th minute, making a full-extension, diving save of a rocket from Thomas Amang.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
Definition of full
Adjective
  • Wilcox noted that overlaps between substance use and suicide complicate reduction efforts.
    — Danielle J. Brown, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
  • Fires in salt cedar can create spotting conditions and complicate suppression efforts, especially on windy days, when embers are carried ahead of containment lines, according to the department.
    — Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 4 May 2026
Definition of complicate
Verb
  • Designed for evolving missions The latest award follows an earlier Titan procurement by JIATF-401, indicating continued confidence in the platform.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026
  • True diversity is the result of a wide, evolving mix of content shaped by creators, not by rigid sub‑quotas.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Definition of evolve

Phrases Containing elaborate

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Cite this Entry

“Elaborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elaborate

Nglish: Translation of elaborate for Spanish Speakers

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