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
1
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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2
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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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 embellishing
Verb
This week, the retailer shared an Instagram video showing a woman applying a Biodance face mask before embellishing the product with colorful plastic gems. — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 Despite embellishing his movie with period-accurate clothes, decor, and music, Mitchell has no deep attachment to the period at all. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026 Mills has been previously accused of embellishing his military record. — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026 Even his close friends accuse Bret of embellishing the truth for creative purposes, not incidentally an accusation both Ellis and Murphy have often faced. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026 Beyond that, there is the knowledge that every game, every performance, every dramatic intervention on Argentina’s behalf, is embellishing a sporting legacy that already seemed complete. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026 In a competitive job market, appearing behind can feel riskier than embellishing skills. — Susan Jacobson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 There was no embellishing symbol, no longer a visual bow to the crown. — Dr. Matthew Warshauer, Hartford Courant, 26 June 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embellishing
  1. decorative
  2. exaggerating
  3. decorating
  4. ornamental
  5. coloring
  6. adorning
  7. padding
  8. draping
Adjective
  • Designed and decorative For textile arts, Heirloom Naga, founded in Dimapur, is a must-visit.
    — Sohini Dey, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Fans of tiki bars, their goal was a web series, one that looked at the colorfully decorative tropical bars in Southern California.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of decorative
Verb
  • The financial affiliations have prompted speculation, especially through strands of the Iranian diaspora, who accuse some of its journalists of exaggerating the level of support for figures in the opposition and of advocating for war.
    — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Thomas cautioned against exaggerating the power of AI agents, however.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of exaggerating
Verb
  • The Mississippi mom of three started the business after decorating her own daughter’s dorm room at Mississippi State in 2020 and posting photos on Facebook.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • After moving out, everything went into storage, but Nunez’s decorating ambitions didn’t end with freshman year.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of decorating
Adjective
  • The brick pathway at my feet passed through a small ornamental fence, crossed some scrubby grass, then ran up the steps to the Helen Keller Birthplace at Ivy Green.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
  • An open-air entry courtyard is anchored by a mature olive tree planted in a mound of ornamental grass.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of ornamental
Verb
  • In addition to card games that take up little storage space, think about adding coloring books and markers or crayons to your storm shelter game collection.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Color-code by person, not event Instead of coloring all sports green and all school events blue, assign one unique color to each member of the family.
    — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of coloring
Verb
  • But the very act of putting on a wearable—of willingly adorning oneself with a tiny computerized narc—is an act of surrender.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In the photo, the father-son duo was all smiles, adorning matching jiu-jitsu outfits.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of adorning
Verb
  • Several women’s World Tour teams have raised concerns that cyclists on rival teams are padding their sports bras to give them a boost in time trials, according to leading Dutch cycling news site, WielerFlits.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 4 Aug. 2026
  • After getting some quick sniffs in and padding around the yard for a while, Jimothy retreated into the bushes surrounding the yard.
    — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of padding
Verb
  • The three-layer cake was designed to reflect the structure of the reception room — fondant draped like the velvet draping on the walls adorned the sides of the cake, with edible pearl detailing.
    — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Its medium weight feels substantial without being too heavy, and its 50 x 60 inch size is perfect for draping over a sofa or armchair.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of draping

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Cite this Entry

“Embellishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embellishing. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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