embellish

[ em-bel-ish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to beautify by or as if by ornamentation; ornament; adorn.

   Synonyms: embroider, bedeck, garnish, decorate

2. to enhance (a statement or narrative) with fictitious additions.

embellish

/ ɪmˈbɛlɪʃ /

verb

1. to improve or beautify by adding detail or ornament; adorn
2. to make (a story) more interesting by adding detail
3. See ornament
   to provide (a melody, part, etc) with ornaments See ornament

Derived Forms

• emˈbellisher, noun
• emˈbellishment, noun

Other Words From

• em·bellish·er noun
• nonem·bellished adjective
• nonem·bellish·ing adjective
• over·em·bellish verb (used with object)
• reem·bellish verb (used with object)
• unem·bellished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of embellish¹

1300–50; Middle English embelisshen < Anglo-French, Middle French embeliss- (stem of embelir ), equivalent to em- em- ¹ + bel- (< Latin bellus pretty) + -iss- -ish ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of embellish¹

C14: from Old French embelir, from bel beautiful, from Latin bellus

Example Sentences

To paint how grimy this metropolis is, “Cyberpunk” relies on the suffering of minorities, particularly women, to embellish the seedy underworld of Night City.

From Washington Post

In more tryouts, I gave into chefly urges to embellish the seasonings, adding, then subtracting, onion powder, garlic powder, fresh garlic and Worcestershire sauce.

From Washington Post

Email security marketing tactics don’t have to be embellished or overly exaggerated to get noticed and be effective.

From Fortune

Linda Yoshida—arguably Instagram’s most prominent calligrapher, with 19,000 followers—has been sending postcards to representatives since 2017, embellishing them with gorgeous calligraphy and documenting them on her Instagram account.

From MIT Technology Review

Special care was taken to alternate the curves of these shaped tusks in the concurrent rows, while the crown was embellished with a plume or a knob.

From Realm of History

If the actual facts are so repugnant to you, then why embellish them?

From The Daily Beast

Why did you feel the need to embellish and lie about your involvement in the UOF?

From The Daily Beast

And like all bad liars, immediately gave into the urge to embellish.

From The Daily Beast

It also takes years of training to be able to sew, embroider, bead, and otherwise embellish these clothes.

From The Daily Beast

He loved to embellish and we were determined not to let him slip one past us.

From The Daily Beast

The first is to combine the higher excellences and embellish them to the greatest advantage.

From Project Gutenberg

The artist, not being able to embellish nature, has sought at least to develop its means, to increase its effect and power.

From Project Gutenberg

"Nothing can embellish a beautiful face more than a narrow band drawn over the brow," says Richter.

From Project Gutenberg

Fruits of the loom in rarest silk and linen, embellish the chambers and luxury sits enthroned.

From Project Gutenberg

The refined and noble style of the Greeks was neglected, and there was an attempt to embellish the beautiful more and more.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adorn
• bedeck
• dress up
• embroider
• exaggerate
• festoon
• gild
• overstate
• spiff up