EMBELLISHING Synonyms: 139 Similar and Opposite Words

embellishing 1 of 2

adjective

as in decorative

serving to add beauty the chef tends to overuse sprigs of parsley and other embellishing garnishes on dishes that don't need them

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embellishing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of embellish

as in exaggerating

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in decorating

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

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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 embellishing

Verb

There was no embellishing symbol, no longer a visual bow to the crown. — Dr. Matthew Warshauer, Hartford Courant, 26 June 2026 And the contour was subtle, embellishing the outer edges only. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 14 May 2026 Across almost every level of competitive basketball, embellishing one’s height is so common as to be unremarkable. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 4 June 2026 Many fans of the NBA today believe there are too many whistles, players embellishing for fouls, and superstar players conga lining to the free-throw line. — Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025 Many arias from the 1800s include repeated verses to give the singers the opportunity to show off their coloratura skills by embellishing the sections of the songs the second time around. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026 Like the pharaohs and emperors of antiquity, the president weaponizes the past to justify his present actions and future plans, omitting and embellishing events of yesteryear to fit a bellicose agenda. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026 In online chats with ADF members in Cameroon, Chungag falsely claimed to have combat experience in Iraq but appeared to be embellishing his military background to raise his profile in the group, the affidavit says. — ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026 While heading to a Late Show With Stephen Colbert appearance with the White Stripes frontman, Scarlett showed off her effortless transitional season style in an olive green jacket with rows of large gold buttons embellishing the front. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellishing

Adjective

Orders for jerseys spiked 89%, while demand for decorative flags jumped 63%.

— Vidhi Choudhary, Fortune, 7 July 2026
The set of three decorative signs can be hung together or scattered about the bathroom for a unique aesthetic.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 6 July 2026

Definition of decorative

Verb

Jan Paul van Hecke of the Netherlands has been involved in two scraps already, the latest when he was hit while going for a header and crumbled, perhaps exaggerating a tad, after Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi challenged the header, as well.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026
The four-time Olympian was not exaggerating.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Definition of exaggerating

Adjective

Because its founders, the Faro family, built a small empire in Sicily from an ornamental plant business that grew into one of the largest Mediterranean plant nurseries in Europe, exporting more than 5,000 varieties to 60 countries.

— Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
These stunning ornamental shrubs showcase flower heads in a dazzling array of colors, including vibrant purples, charming pinks, and serene blues that bloom across various climates.

— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026

Definition of ornamental

Verb

Moreover, the shock of higher prices is still fresh in people's minds and may be coloring consumers' purchasing decisions, despite signs that prices should retreat further.

— Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 July 2026
Pink to purple blooms open over a long season, coloring the garden from late spring through fall to the delight of butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.

— Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 July 2026

Definition of coloring

Verb

The timing of this stellar event is especially striking given that this aurora forecast also happens to coincide with the rising of the full Strawberry Moon, adorning the night sky Monday evening.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Fans have also indulged in a more modern Scottish tradition, adorning statues in both cities with traffic cones.

— Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 27 June 2026

Definition of adorning

Verb

The professors were bitter and angry—angry at a university, a state, and a country where their fields of study were regarded as obsolete, useful only for padding the schedules of STEM students or as a backstop for STEM burnouts.

— Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Perhaps this isn’t new—Star Wars has been taking small moments from the original trilogy and padding them out for decades now—almost everything seen on screen in those first three films has been resurrected, fleshed out with backstories and unnecessary details.

— Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026

Definition of padding

Verb

But Sportman said more must be done, including draping the area with a tarp to prevent more water from entering the hole, hastening more erosion.

— Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
Bunting arranged this way is appropriate for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of a platform or general decoration.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026

Definition of draping

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

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Synonyms of embellishing

adjective

verb

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