as in ornamentation
decoration that consists of delicate and complicated designs made of fine gold or silver wire
a surface decorated with filigree and pearls
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as in to ribbon
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of filigree
Alex Davies, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2019
In contrast to the historic skyscraper’s filigreed crown of flying buttresses and pinnacles, the top of the new one would consist of curving glass walls extending beyond the building’s occupied floors.
—Blair Kamin and Ryan Ori, chicagotribune.com, 16 Apr. 2018
Sandra Jordan, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
There were also some production filigrees that evoked Owens’ old stomping grounds, such as quick shots of reporters on the ground telling viewers to stay tuned for their coming stories.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for filigree
Noun
Another helpful move was using what Bugatti calls filigree side view mirrors, which let air pass through them.
—Alex Davies, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2019
In contrast to the historic skyscraper’s filigreed crown of flying buttresses and pinnacles, the top of the new one would consist of curving glass walls extending beyond the building’s occupied floors.
—Blair Kamin and Ryan Ori, chicagotribune.com, 16 Apr. 2018
Verb
But most of his filigree is sold from his studio and many are custom orders.
—Sandra Jordan, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
There were also some production filigrees that evoked Owens’ old stomping grounds, such as quick shots of reporters on the ground telling viewers to stay tuned for their coming stories.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for filigree
Recent Examples of Synonyms for filigree
Noun
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Studs, leopard print, and DIY ornamentation sit alongside soft pastels, swirling graphic patterns, and a Nouveau color palette inspired by the Parisian Metropolitain signs.—
Felicity Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Born into postwar optimism in the mid-20th century, the movement favored steel, concrete, and insulated glass in defiance of ornamentation.—
Will Speros,
Architectural Digest,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The road that ribbons through the foothills rises and twists like the tail of a cat.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
31 Aug. 2025
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Here’s a peek at the new flavors and some of the ingredients that inspired them: Lemon curd & whey This light and citrusy flavor uses whey as a substitute for lemon juice to make lemon curd that ribbons throughout the ice cream base.—
oregonlive,
oregonlive,
24 May 2023
Noun
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In addition to the Jesus tower, another would be dedicated to Mary, with bluish granite ornaments meant to evoke her iconic cloak; there would also be spires for each of the four Evangelists and the twelve apostles.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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There’s a point at which there are too many ornaments on the Christmas tree and the whole thing is in danger of tipping over.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More viscous than your average face mist, the milky formula is laced with ceramides and lipids to relieve tight, thirsty skin and refresh dull, dry-looking makeup without so much as a flush or a tingle.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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This detail, at once tragic and comic, painfully human and stupidly bureaucratic, captures something essential about Schattenfroh, an extremely dark novel about the horrors of modern European history laced with the delirious, disconcerting humor of a Hieronymus Bosch painting.—
Book Marks
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For readers wanting to try it, De Los Santos recommends starting with a clean manicure, applying one coat of gold polish, then finishing with two coats of glitter for maximum impact.—
Essence,
Essence,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Dakota Johnson opted for the season’s most naked dress so far by Gucci, while Demi Moore also chose Gucci for full gothic glitter glam.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As the sun has grown subtly brighter over this span, if this supercontinent struggled with high carbon dioxide levels like its Pangaean forebear did, then this would be an inimically hot world to animals, except for lone refuges fringing its polar far reaches.—
Peter Brannen,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
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And there's winterbor, which has fringed blue-green leaves.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The beauty of cotton curtains lies in their versatility—the easy-to-handle material can be printed, support a variety of embroidery techniques, and adorned with trimmings to draw more attention to your windows.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
19 Sep. 2025
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The gown also included delicate embroidery featured in a whimsical motif near the hem of the skirt.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But one of the building’s façades is still a temporary wall, lacking the elaborate statues and adornments that will one day garland it.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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Ana Swanson and Lazaro Gamio Selfies From the Front: Inside the ‘V.I.P.’ Brigade for Ambitious Russian Officials After a stint with a drone unit led by a member of Parliament, Russian officials return to work, and promotions, garlanded as war veterans.—
Lazaro Gamio Nataliya Vasilyeva Ryan Francis Bradley Ilham Ahmed,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Filigree.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/filigree. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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