How is it possible that a being with such sensitive jewels as the eyes, such enchanted musical instruments as the ears, and such fabulous arabesque of nerves as the brain can experience itself anything less than a god?
Source: tatoeba (3529788)
Arabesque
/ˌæɹ.əˈbɛsk/
Synonyms for "arabesque" (144 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (29)
acciaccaturaappoggiaturabaroquebaroquenessbasketrybasketworkbusycadencecadenzacancellationchichichinoiseriecoloraturacottagecross hatchingcross-hatchingcrossing-outdancedivisiondrapery
Show 3 more words
Noun(6 words)
Strong matches (43)
Related words (72)
lacerylaceworklacinglatticelatticeworklong mordentluxurianceluxuriantluxuriousluxuriousnessmeshmeshesmeshworkmordentmoresquenetnettingnetworkornamentostentation
Show 44 more words
ostentatiousoverelaborateoverelaboratenessovereleganceoverornamentationoverworkedoverwroughtpassagepicturesqueplexureplexuspralltrillerraddlereticlereticulationreticulereticulumrichrichnessriddlerococorouladerunscreenscreeningshowysievesingle mordentsteptexturetissuetracerytrellistrellisworkturnwattleweaveweavingwebwebbingwebworkweftwickerwickerwork
Adjective(1 words)
Noun(7 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: acciaccatura, appoggiatura, balletic pose, baroque, baroqueness.
- Sentence evidence is available for arabesque, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "arabesque".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "arabesque"
Keep "arabesque" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "arabesque" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "arabesque", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "arabesque" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesart formballet positionbody positiondance positiondecorationdecorative featuredesignornamentornamental designornamentationposture
More specific
5 entriesCollocations
9 entriesIslamic arabesquearabesque borderarabesque designarabesque motifarabesque ornamentarabesque patternarabesque scrollintricate arabesquescrollwork pattern
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
It was a sort of scene which Adam had beheld almost weekly for years; he knew by heart every arabesque flourish in the framed specimen of Bartle Massey’s handwriting which hung over the schoolmaster’s head, by way of keeping a lofty ideal before the minds of his pupils; […].
Source: wiktionary
The house of Ruthven was a small but ultra-modern limestone affair, between Madison and Fifth ;[…]. As a matter of fact its narrow ornate façade presented not a single quiet space that the eyes might rest on after a tiring attempt to follow and codify the arabesques, foliations, and intricate vermiculations of what some disrespectfully dubbed as “ near-aissance.”
Source: wiktionary
For a man who condemned worldly pleasures he ate with elegance. She loved to watch the arabesque of fingers and two forks.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "arabesque"?
Closest matches include acciaccatura, appoggiatura, balletic pose, baroque, baroqueness.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "arabesque"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.