1
: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style
is clear and simple rather than ornate and pompous—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)2
: elaborately or excessively decorated
an ornate mantle
an ornate townhouse
ornate chandeliers
ornately
adverb
ornateness
noun
Examples of ornate in a Sentence
She doesn't like ornate jewelry.
an ornate gambling casino that is designed to look like an Italian palace
Recent Examples on the Web
Upon its arrival at your table, a server will present for inspection an ornate silver dagger, pull it with a flourish from its curved sheath, and proceed to saw off the head of the Mother at approximately her Tropic of Cancer.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
Its once-rich timber and cotton shipping industries gave the town a big boom during the mid 19th century, and the resulting ornate Victorian homes and grand architecture are stunning vestiges of that time.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025
Neutral designs, such as the Mona style, boast an ornate medallion design in a muted color scheme.
—Ali Faccenda, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Every seat at the table was set with a mismatched colorful and ornate plates, complementing the roses that grew in the lush garden.
—Ye Fan, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ornate
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Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
Its once-rich timber and cotton shipping industries gave the town a big boom during the mid 19th century, and the resulting ornate Victorian homes and grand architecture are stunning vestiges of that time.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025
Neutral designs, such as the Mona style, boast an ornate medallion design in a muted color scheme.
—Ali Faccenda, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Every seat at the table was set with a mismatched colorful and ornate plates, complementing the roses that grew in the lush garden.
—Ye Fan, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ornate
Cite this Entry
“Ornate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornate. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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