1
as in ornamentation
something that decorates or beautifies
a colorful mobile is just the embellishment that the soon-to-be nursery needs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
the actor's penchant for embellishment suggests that his memoirs would be more appropriately shelved in the fiction section
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of embellishment
The challenge is to say their lines in unison with the original speaker, voicing them with no dramatization or embellishment.
—
Leah Abrams, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
Jenner dressed in a floor-length orange gown with triangular cutouts complete with a deep V-neckline cinched with a cross embellishment, which was then replicated on her necklace.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
Another, more cynical, view is to believe the whole story to be a myth, at best perhaps a misrepresentation or embellishment.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 Dec. 2025
The denim assortment combines contemporary fits with nods to Juicy Couture signatures like low-rise flare fits and crystal embellishments.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for embellishment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellishment
Noun
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Architects, playing off each others’ designs, have developed a form of architectural ornamentation, or art form, unique to downtown Fort Lauderdale.—
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Most of the space is dimly lit, with spotlights that accentuate Thomas’s signature strass ornamentation—liberally applied not only to the outlines of her Black female figures, but also to their ruby-red lips, lustrous hair, the lines between their toes, and the surrounding decorative patterns.—
Noun
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Speaking of which, the concept of royalty among members of PFV is no exaggeration, though some of the blue blood flowing through members’ veins is merely aristocratic.—
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The deliberate exaggeration of both Lee’s performance and Park’s direction is what draws us into a suspension of moral disbelief, a sense of complicity with Man-su’s outrageous scheme.—
Noun
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After removing ornaments and dusting your tree, go ahead and dismantle it.—
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The Four Freedoms Roosevelt named were not rhetorical ornaments offered as inspiration so much as a diagnosis.—
Noun
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But in contrast to these common caricatures, surveys of public opinion consistently show that most people around the world hold positive views of wolves, often overwhelmingly so.—
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Chamberlain also included a drawing of the girls in the group done on a paper tablecloth which included caricatures of Carpenter, Sandoval, Chamberlain and Sarah, as well as Carpenter's friend Amber Mark.—
Noun
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The edifice boasts an abundance of sculpted decoration, while its grand staircase echoes Michelangelo’s design for the Laurentian Library in Florence.—
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Throughout the home, there has been an obvious attention to detail and decoration.—
Noun
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Statement textures, like fringe, pleating, embroidery, crochet, and subtle ruching, bring interest through movement and dimension rather than color or pattern.—
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Apparel includes the Puffed Brixton track jacket and Dayton pullover, each featuring a special embroidery execution.—
Noun
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Bieber’s matching barely-there thong was connected to it through a web of black strings on her stomach, showing off her abs and highlighting a pink bow adornment in the center.—
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The team also said the grave was unusual for its small circular shell beads, which served as personal adornments.—
Noun
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Rafael Arechiga was charged with murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon.—
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office had charged Mangione with terrorism enhancements in order to justify a first-degree murder charge under state law, which could have been punished with a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.—
Cite this Entry
“Embellishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellishment. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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