deck 1 of 2

noun

ˈdek How to pronounce deck (audio)
Definition of decknext
as in balcony
a flat roofless structure attached to a building the family usually ate on the deck on summer evenings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

deck

2 of 2

verb

as in to decorate
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming deck the halls with boughs of holly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word deck different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of deck are adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish, garnish, and ornament. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

When can adorn be used instead of deck?

In some situations, the words adorn and deck are roughly equivalent. However, adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself.

a diamond necklace adorned her neck

How are the words beautify and embellish related as synonyms of deck?

Beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

When could decorate be used to replace deck?

The meanings of decorate and deck largely overlap; however, decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

When is embellish a more appropriate choice than deck?

The synonyms embellish and deck are sometimes interchangeable, but embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

Where would garnish be a reasonable alternative to deck?

While the synonyms garnish and deck are close in meaning, garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.

an entrée garnished with parsley

How do ornament and embellish relate to one another, in the sense of deck?

Both ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original.

a white house ornamented with green shutters

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 deck
Noun
Dovecove Gramercie Elevated Garden Bed with Wheels Get ready for gardening season with this charming elevated bed that’s perfectly sized for a patio or deck. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2026 The experience of visiting After stepping off the ship, guests embark on a 5-minute ferry ride to the club, which sits to the northwest of the cruise port and is visible from the top deck of taller ships in port. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
When the man asked for his share of the craps proceeds, LaForte responded with screaming and violence, decking the man in the face and giving him a black eye, according to court filings. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026 The restaurant is set in a historic, 1850s-era building, with an intimate but lively dining room decked with glistening chandeliers and warm candlelight flickering on cream brick walls. —Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deck
  1. balcony
  2. decorate
  3. porch
  4. adorn
  5. terrace
  6. drape
  7. trim
Noun
  • With rooms ranging from 910 to 2,100 square feet, there’s plenty of room to stretch your legs, and the private walk-out balconies beholding all of the Strip certainly don’t hurt.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Past the tiled shower, a door opens to a private balcony with ample space for lounging in bathrobes.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of balcony
Verb
  • In a miniature muffin pan, dollop a tablespoon of batter into each cup and decorate with your topping of choice.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Even the bathrooms evoke memories of home, one decorated like his grandma’s house, and the other evoking a tropical rainforest with the sounds of birds and frogs indigenous to the island.
    — Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of decorate
Noun
  • Karen Powers stood on the porch as her brother and the adjuster engaged in a heated debate on the roof above her.
    — J.C. Hallman, Oklahoman, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Upon noticing a doorbell camera, the subject calmly seeks foliage from Guthrie’s porch area to try and obscure the lens.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of porch
Verb
  • Some have been completely worn down with obscurity over time; others appear to be washed and adorned with fresh flowers on a weekly basis.
    — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Planted orchid arrangements, from Orchids by Hausermann in Illinois, will adorn the tables.
    — Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of adorn
Noun
  • Almost all of them include whirlpool baths on their terraces; those that don’t instead have semi-private pools just a few steps from the bed.
    — José Cantillo Ferrer, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Galleries devoted to world cultures, rotating contemporary exhibitions and sweeping public terraces overlooking the Spree position the institution as both museum and gathering place.
    — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of terrace
Verb
  • Russell's most famous photograph, from The Outlaw, lying in hay with her blouse draped off her shoulder, sultry and dangerous; the family surrounding Waterfield's bust at his Hall of Fame induction.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Local businesses closed for the day, and buildings were draped in black fabric, as if observing a funeral.
    — Stephen Mihm, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of drape
Verb
  • Hachimura helped the Lakers stay the course after their lead was trimmed to two points with 27 seconds left.
    — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Officials say the goats will practically climb over each other to reach them, turning bush-trimming into a competitive sport.
    — Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of trim

Phrases Containing deck

Browse Nearby Words

decisiveness
deck
decked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deck. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on deck

Nglish: Translation of deck for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

What does 'etcetera' mean?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?

Why Is the Letter ‘Z’ Associated With Sleeping?

The Words of the Week - Feb. 13

Why do we call it 'ides of March'?
See More

Popular

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?
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
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All