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. to provide (a melody, part, etc) with ornaments See ornament

Other Word Forms

• embellisher noun
• nonembellished adjective
• nonembellishing adjective
• overembellish verb (used with object)
• reembellish verb (used with object)
• unembellished adjective
• embellishment noun

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

Four photos from a courtroom appearance she made in August embellish that variant.

From Los Angeles Times

His lively melodies about love, hope and despair - embellished with catchy riffs - brought a breath of fresh air to an otherwise tense social milieu.

From BBC

They have embellished those spreadsheet credentials with their deeds on the pitch too.

From BBC

It pours most of its resources into its military, monuments and landmarks - often in Pyongyang - that embellish the image and cult of the Kim family that has run the country since 1948.

From BBC

Robinson couldn't help but embellish his credentials when trying to defraud.

From BBC

Related Words

• adorn 
• bedeck 
• dress up 
• embroider 
• exaggerate 
• festoon 
• gild 
• overstate 
• spiff up www.thesaurus.com