ornament 1 of 2

noun

ˈȯr-nə-mənt How to pronounce ornament (audio)
Definition of ornamentnext
as in decoration
something that decorates or beautifies her collection of plaster gnomes which she uses as lawn ornaments

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ornament

2 of 2

verb

ˈȯr-nə-ˌment How to pronounce ornament (audio)
as in to decorate
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming delicate crystal figurines ornament the mantel over the fireplace

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of ornament are adorn, beautify, deck, decorate, embellish, and garnish. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," 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

When is it sensible to use adorn instead of ornament?

The synonyms adorn and ornament are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 ornament?

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

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

When might deck be a better fit than ornament?

In some situations, the words deck and ornament are roughly equivalent. However, deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

In what contexts can decorate take the place of ornament?

While in some cases nearly identical to ornament, decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

When can embellish be used instead of ornament?

The words embellish and ornament are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

Where would garnish be a reasonable alternative to ornament?

Although the words garnish and ornament have much in common, garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.

an entrée garnished with parsley

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 ornament
Noun
Along with a glimmering Christmas display of ornaments and decorations, the Guamans have collections of garden and holiday gnomes. —Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025 The eponymous brand founder and creative director, Temple St. Clair, creates pieces and designs that reflect her passion for the history of jewelry and gold — with the traditions of personal ornaments and storytelling at the heart of her brand ethos. —Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 6 June 2025
Verb
Dozens of families hung homemade ornaments on a tree decorated in blue lights at Centennial Park on Thursday. —Craig Shoup, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024 The 818 founder also revealed in her latest house tour with AD that Kris, 69, gifted her their family's original Christopher Radko ornaments. —Dayna Haffenden, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for ornament
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ornament
  1. decoration
  2. decorate
  3. ornamentation
  4. adorn
  5. adornment
Noun
  • To take advantage of all the fall offers, head to your nearest ALDI store and stock up fast—the fall decorations are sure to sell out quickly.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2025
  • The graduating senior was also prom queen who helped with planning activities that included the song playlist and picking out decorations.
    — Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 14 July 2025
Definition of decoration
Verb
  • And once complete, the space will be decorated with murals and other installations by local artists.
    — Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • Dozens of house plants decorate the shelves and window sills, absorbing the light from windows that run from the tops of bookshelves to the ceiling.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 29 July 2025
Definition of decorate
Noun
  • Told by one of the firm’s senior partners to add ornamentation to the design for a pyramid atop an office building, Wells flatly refused.
    — Henry Wiencek July 22, Literary Hub, 22 July 2025
  • That is, minimal ornamentation with an emphasis on modern materials which made construction less expensive.
    — Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2025
Definition of ornamentation
Verb
  • Harris, along with other guests at the wedding bash, were seen sitting at a long banquet table adorned with red roses.
    — Raven Brunner, People.com, 28 July 2025
  • An Instagram post showed her toes adorned with her own rings—made for fingers.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 July 2025
Definition of adorn
Noun
  • But feathers aren’t the only adornments that ancient animals developed.
    — Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 23 July 2025
  • Tonya Hawkes designs stand in noble contrast to current trends in hectic kitsch adornment including jewels containing shouty, sentimentally overblown messages and imagery.
    — Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Definition of adornment

Browse Nearby Words

orisons
ornament
ornamental
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ornament.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ornament. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ornament

Nglish: Translation of ornament for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ornament

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