embroidery

noun

im-ˈbrȯi-d(ə-)rē How to pronounce embroidery (audio)
Definition of embroiderynext
1
as in needlework
decorative stitching done on cloth with the use of a needle she's been able to turn her skill at embroidery into a second business selling decorative items

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts it's doubtful that she ever told an anecdote without considerable embroidery

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 embroidery In another effort to pay homage to her heritage, Osaka’s Wimbledon attire was a ceremonial Japanese dress with billowing long sleeves, ornate embroidery and a ruffled skirt. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026 The embroidery follows Apple’s use of stop-motion animation campaigns for the Mac mini and Apple Games, which also followed the route of showing the humans at work behind the animation. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026 Rich color, decoration, and texture are returning — lace, embroidery, sequins — but they are integrated into lightweight fabrics, softer colors, and relaxed silhouettes. — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026 Many young women first encountered writing not through ink and paper but through embroidery. — Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for embroidery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embroidery
  1. needlework
  2. exaggeration
  3. caricature
  4. coloring
  5. stretching
  6. enhancement
  7. embroidering
  8. fabrication
Noun
  • If someone spots the morality police approaching, English lessons are wiped from the whiteboard in seconds, and notebooks are replaced with needlework.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The two styles are both hand-embroidered with a Japanese anemone floral on linen, recalling the needlework and textile traditions of the Georgian era.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of needlework
Noun
  • That may be an exaggeration, given Brazil’s clout and heft, and also its extensive ties with China, its biggest trade partner.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Even if that number is a gross exaggeration, this is a cash cow business.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of exaggeration
Noun
  • But on that score, too, Jackson tries to soften the caricature of the billionaire executive.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • What is acceptable in today’s society is the Real Housewives franchise, where all of these things kind of play out, but almost in caricature.
    — Raymond Ang, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of caricature
Noun
  • Add 1 to 2 drops of red food coloring to the bowl of candy melts and mix well to incorporate.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • With that in mind, Haug suggests requesting balayage, a freehand hair-coloring technique that lightens strands without using foils, and looks a little more natural compared to traditional highlights.
    — Jacqueline Kilikita, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of coloring
Noun
  • Other days included yoga and stretching, catching hundreds of balls on the Jugs machine or recovering at Kollective, a social performance club in Austin.
    — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Daily laundry service after a day spent hiking, stretching, and sprinting is a welcome bonus.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of stretching
Noun
  • By adjusting the distance between the tips, the team could stretch or compress the molecular structure, changing the voltage at which the current enhancement began.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In some of the advertisements during this election cycle, AI was used for aesthetic enhancements, such as improving image quality or dramatizing events in the candidate’s life.
    — Anagilmara Vílchez, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of enhancement
Noun
  • Promoting the preservation of centuries-old skills that have been passed down for generations—like Al-sadu (geometric embroidering) and Talli (hand-weaving)—the center offers educational workshops and training courses as well as daily artisan showcases.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of embroidering
Noun
  • FiftyPlusOne included the group’s data in its polling averages, but found evidence of fabrications.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The staff report said the loan will be disbursed only after the company has paid invoices for materials, construction and equipment fabrication.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of fabrication

Browse Nearby Words

embroiders
embroidery
embroil
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Embroidery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embroidery. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on embroidery

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about embroidery

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shindig

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All