Embellishment — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /im-ˈbe-lish-mənt/ em·bel·lish·ment

Meaning & Definition of Embellishment

Embellishment (noun)

  1. the act or process of embellishing
  2. something serving to embellish
  3. ornament

Embellishment (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something that decorates or beautifies

    "a colorful mobile is just the embellishment that the soon-to-be nursery needs"

    similar: adornment, beautifier, caparison, decoration, doodad, embellisher, frill, garnish, garnishment, garniture, ornament, ornamentation, setoff, trim
    related: apparel, bells and whistles, blazonry, bric-a-brac, chichi, emblazonry, filigree, finery, foofaraw, frippery, frosting, froufrou, fal-lal, flounce, flourish, furbelow, ruffle, enhancement, enrichment, improvement, appliqué, embossment, embroidery, fancywork, bedizenment, gilt, glitter, design, figure, pattern, furnishings, regalia, trappings
    near: blemish, defacement, disfigurement, scar, blot, spot, stain

  2. 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"

    similar: caricature, coloring, elaboration, embroidering, embroidery, exaggeration, hyperbole, magnification, overstatement, padding, stretching
    related: amplification, enhancement, fabrication, misrepresentation, fudging, hedging, hype, puffery, superlative
    opposite: meiosis, understatement
    near: belittlement, disparagement, minimizing, poor-mouthing

Related Entry: Ornament (noun)

Ornament is a different word from Embellishment. The synonyms below are for ornament, not for embellishment.

  1. something that decorates or beautifies

    "her collection of plaster gnomes which she uses as lawn ornaments"

    similar: adornment, beautifier, caparison, decoration, doodad, embellisher, embellishment, frill, garnish, garnishment, garniture, ornamentation, setoff, trim
    related: apparel, bells and whistles, blazonry, bric-a-brac, chichi, emblazonry, filigree, finery, foofaraw, frippery, frosting, froufrou, fal-lal, flounce, flourish, furbelow, ruffle, enhancement, enrichment, improvement, appliqué, embossment, embroidery, fancywork, bedizenment, gilt, glitter, design, figure, pattern, furnishings, regalia, trappings
    near: blemish, defacement, disfigurement, scar, blot, spot, stain

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Embellishment

The most common words with a similar meaning to Embellishment:

adornment, beautifier, caparison, decoration, doodad, embellisher, frill, garnish, garnishment, garniture, ornament, ornamentation, setoff, trim, caricature, coloring, elaboration, embroidering, embroidery, exaggeration, hyperbole, magnification, overstatement, padding, stretching

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Embellishment

Words with the opposite meaning of Embellishment:

meiosis, understatement

Related Words for Embellishment

apparel, bells and whistles, blazonry, bric-a-brac, chichi, emblazonry, filigree, finery, foofaraw, frippery, frosting, froufrou, fal-lal, flounce, flourish, furbelow, ruffle, enhancement, enrichment, improvement, appliqué, embossment, fancywork, bedizenment, gilt, glitter, design, figure, pattern, furnishings

Near Antonyms of Embellishment

blemish, defacement, disfigurement, scar, blot, spot, stain, belittlement, disparagement, minimizing, poor-mouthing

Origin & Etymology of Embellishment

First known use: 1591

Frequently Asked Questions about Embellishment

What does "Embellishment" mean?

"Embellishment" means the act or process of embellishing. As a noun, it is defined as: the act or process of embellishing. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Embellishment"?

Other words for "Embellishment" include adornment, beautifier, caparison, decoration, doodad, embellisher, frill and garnish. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Embellishment" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Embellishment"?

There are 65 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Embellishment". Common alternatives include adornment, beautifier, caparison, decoration, doodad, embellisher, frill, garnish, garnishment and garniture.

What is the opposite of "Embellishment"?

Antonyms of "Embellishment" include meiosis and understatement. Near antonyms include blemish, defacement, disfigurement and scar.

How do you use "Embellishment" in a sentence?

Examples of "Embellishment" in a sentence: "a colorful mobile is just the embellishment that the soon-to-be nursery needs"; "the actor's penchant for embellishment suggests that his memoirs would be more appropriately shelved in the fiction section".

Is "Embellishment" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Embellishment" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Embellishment"?

"Embellishment" is pronounced /im-ˈbe-lish-mənt/ and divided into syllables as em·bel·lish·ment.

What is the origin of the word "Embellishment"?

First known use: 1591.