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

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

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

He also stayed on theme by accessorising with embellished gloves, a brooch and a hat that paid homage to his Puerto Rican heritage.

From BBC

That is, our episodic memories are pieced together from a small number of concepts embellished by the brain's tendency to make up less important details, or to remain fuzzy about them.

From Salon

Candidates embellished their experience to match the job description.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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