embellishing
present participle ofembellish
embellish
verb
uk/ɪmˈbel.ɪʃ/us/ɪmˈbel.ɪʃ/[T]
to make something morebeautifulbyaddingsomething to it:
Theceilingwas embellishedwithflowersandleaves.
Synonym
decorate(MAKE ATTRACTIVE)
Compare
beautify
prettifyoftendisapproving
[IorT]
toaddorchangesomedetailsof astory, usually to make it moreinterestingorexciting:
He couldn'tresistembellishing thestoryof hisaccidenta little.
I don'tblamehim for embellishing.
Compare
elaborateverbformal
expand onsomething
expatiateformaldisapproving
expoundformal
- Embellish thewreathwithribbons,glitter, andberries.
- Thefoyer, embellished withgold,velvetandcrystal, waslitbychandeliers.
- Themansionhas beenenlargedand embellished over theyears.
- He sometimes had to embellish thefactsinorderto, as hesawit,highlightthetruth.
- There wereclaimsthecandidatehad embellished hiswarrecord.
- There was no need toflatteror embellish.
Decorating or making something attractive
- accessorize
- adorn
- adornment
- beautification
- beautify
- embellish
- flock
- foliated
- garland
- gewgaw
- glam
- ornamentation
- ornate
- over-glamorize
- overdecorate
- overdecoration
- twiddly
- window dressing
- yarn bombing
- zhuzh
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Exaggerating & playing down
Examplesofembellishing
embellishing
In English, many past and present participles of verbs can be used as adjectives. Some of these examples may show the adjective use.
The group appeared to play from a single line,embellishingthis with heterophonous ornamentation.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The composer's genuine gift for illuminating andembellishingtexts was instantly in evidence.
From theCambridge English Corpus
When two layers do not align, their relationship will always be 'dissonant' even if they cannot be categorized as 'structural' versus 'embellishing'.
From theCambridge English Corpus
In both cases, children repeat actions they have seen, sometimes elaborating, combining, andembellishingthem.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The later writers have fed upon the earlier ones' material,embellishingit here and there.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Exaggerating (embellishing) thus becomes strengthening and strong, sound.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Asylum seekers may well have escaped from a persecuting or life-threatening country only by concealing orembellishingthe bare truth of their situation.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
There is no point in myembellishingthe argument any further.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
As we all know, there is no point in denying anything,embellishingcomments or attempting to put them in context.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
To me, the words "shall take into account" do not needembellishingfurther.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Of course, those ex-mobsters might beembellishingtheir tales to sell more books.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We are notembellishinga situation that is genuinely dramatic.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
I would call it refining andembellishing.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
He emphasizes the importance of following one's ear whenembellishingand understanding which notes will create a consonance.
From
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.Stickers are also used forembellishingscrapbooking pages.
FromThis example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
- sweep-under-the-rug
- sweet
- sweet-and-sour
- sweet-and-sour
- sweetbread
- sweet cherry
- sweet chestnut
- sweet-chestnut
- sweet cider
- sweet-cider
- sweetcorn
- sweeten
- sweetened
- sweetener
- sweetening
- sweeten the pill
- sweeten-the-pill
- sweet fanny adams
- sweet-fanny-adams
- sweet girl
- sweetheart
- sweetheart cabbage
- sweetheart-cabbage
- sweetheart deal
- sweetheart-deal