You can decorate the cocktail with a cherry or a pineapple.
Source: tatoeba (236600)
Decorate
/ˈdɛkəɹeɪt/
Synonyms for "decorate" (472 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (95)
Verb(31 words)
Noun(32 words)
apparelingappliqueappliquédart and craftattirebannerbatiksbeadsbedazzlingbedeckingblazoningblingbrocadebrocadesbrocadingbuntingcaparisoningcaparisonscatkinatecharms
Show 12 more words
checkeringcockadecockadescomosecrestingcupcakescurlicuingdaffodil motif designdaisy patterndamasksdanish frostdecals
Adjective(5 words)
Strong matches (141)
Verb(40 words)
deck outdeckeddecoredetaildiapereddighteddo updolleddressdress updubegyptianize interioregyptianizedembellishedembellishesemblazonedemblazonsembossembossesembroidered
Noun(64 words)
deckingdecksdecoupagediademsdolldotsdress actiondress code clothingdress patternsdressesearly morning ground frostembellishingemblazoningembroideringenamelenamelingepaulettesevergreensfacepaintfancy
Show 44 more words
featherfeatheringfeathersfestooningfestoonsfilagreefiligreefiligreeingfiligreesflocksfloralizingflouncesflourishesflower patternflower pattern designflower pattern fabricflowered garlandsflowersfoliate designform frostfriezefriezesfrillfrillsfringefringesfringingfrostfrostingfrostsfurbelowgarlandgarlandinggarlandsgarnishesgarnishinggemsgimcrackgimcracksglittersglitzgracesgracingheaddresses
Related words (236)
Noun(107 words)
hemstitchhemstitchingiceice topicesillumininginlayjabotsjazzingjeweljewelingjewellingjewelslacelanternslaureateslaurelleast patternedlipstickingmantling
Show 87 more words
measured trimmedalmedalsmonogramsnecklacesnib calligraphyornamental bloomornamentingornamentspaisley pattern designpaisley patternspaperpaper methodspaper patternpaperingpapersparaphpatternpattern a designpattern a garmentpattern categorypattern designedpattern instructionpattern taskspattern the fabricpattern weeklypatterningpatterning activitiespatterning routinespatternspearlspebblepebblespebblingpimppimpsplatingplumeplumespolymer clay charmsprettyingquillsrickrackruffingscroll motifshell imprintsmockspanglespanglesspanglingspotssprigsprigssprucesprucingstarsstencilstencil lettersstencilingstencillingstripestripesstripingstuccoesstudstuddingstudsstylistic attributeswaggingswashesswashingtartstasseltassellingtasselsthemestinseltinselingtinselstissue paper patterntoppingtrim appearancetuftstulip pattern damaskwallpaperswinter patternwreaths
Adjective(23 words)
hitch onhonorilluminateillustrateinfixinvolvejoinjoin withload with ornamentornamentoverchargeoverlayoverloadpaintpaste onpatternpay regard topay tributepluspostfix
Show 41 more words
praiseprankprank uppreenprefixprettifypretty upprimpprimp upprinkprink upput withredecorateredorefurbishrender honor torenovaterestoresaddle withset offset outslap onsmartensmarten upspanglespruce upsubjoinsuffixsuperaddsuperposetack ontagtag ontitivatetooltrick outtrick uptrimunite withvarnishwallpaper
Verb(45 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: adorn, beautify, deck, embellish, ornament.
- Sentence evidence is available for decorate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
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 "decorate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "decorate"
Keep "decorate" 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 "decorate" 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 "decorate", 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 "decorate" 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
13 entriesMore specific
8 entriesCollocations
6 entriescolor schemedecorative borderfestive lightsholiday decorationsmantel displayornamental trim
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriessimilar
1 entriesTranslations
23 translations across 17 languages.
Bulgarian
2 entries- ремонтирам verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
- реновирам verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Czech
1 entries- zdobit verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Finnish
1 entries- somistaa verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
French
1 entries- décorer verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
German
3 entries- ausschmücken verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
- streichen verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
- tapezieren verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Hebrew
2 entries- עיטר verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
- קישט verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Japanese
1 entries- 模様替えをする verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Māori
2 entries- nakonako verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
- whakarārakei verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Nheengatu
2 entries- mpuranga verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
- mupuranga verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Norwegian Bokmål
1 entries- innrede verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Norwegian Nynorsk
1 entries- innreie verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Occitan
1 entries- decorar verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Persian
1 entries- آراستن verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Portuguese
1 entries- decorar verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Scottish Gaelic
1 entries- sgeadaich verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Swedish
1 entries- inreda verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Telugu
1 entries- అలంకరించు verb (to improve the appearance of a house, room, office and so forth)
Sample sentences
16 total sentences available.
I like to decorate my apartment to suit my taste.
Source: tatoeba (257367)
I like to decorate my room with flowers.
Source: tatoeba (637314)
People there decorate their homes with potted flowers to add to the festival atmosphere.
Source: tatoeba (766033)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "decorate"?
Closest matches include adorn, beautify, deck, embellish, ornament.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "decorate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.