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Definition of embellish

embellish

/ɪmˈbɛl.ɪʃ/
em · bel · lish
Adjective:embellished
•
Past Simple:embellished
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Past Participle:embellished
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Present Participle:embellishing
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embellish Lexical Profile

embellish Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To make a statement, story, or account more interesting or entertaining by adding exaggerated or fictitious details.

Example

"He tends to embellish his travel stories so much that it is hard to know what actually happened."

2

To make something more attractive or appealing by adding decorative details or features.

Example

"The artisan chose to embellish the wooden frame with intricate gold leaf patterns."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for embellish

• Nearby Words

embedded
embedding
embedment
embellish
embellisher
embellishment
ember

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French embelliss-, the extended stem of embellir ('to make beautiful'), formed from em- ('in, make') and bel ('beautiful'), ultimately from Latin bellus ('pretty, handsome').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Embellish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/embellish
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