Let's take time out to elaborate a strategy.
Source: tatoeba (41129)
Elaborate
/ɪˈlæb.(ə.)ɹət/
Synonyms for "elaborate" (355 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (71)
Noun(9 words)
amplifyingarabesque designbrocadecisccomplex information-processing taskcomplex life form habitatcomplex realitydamascenedamask pattern
Adjective(9 words)
baroque history narrativebaroque stylecomplex animalcomplex clausecomplex designcomplex living systemcomplex problemcomplex social systemcomplex task
Strong matches (107)
Verb(22 words)
deluxederivedescantdetaildetaileddevelopdeviousdevisedilatediligentdiscoursediscussdressydwell uponelaboratedelegantembellishembellishedembrangledembroider
Show 40 more words
enlargeenlarge uponenrichentangledenter into detailerecteuphuisticevolveexpandexpatiateexplainexplicateexpoundextravagantextrudefabricatefancyfashionfestoonfinefinickyfinishflamboyantfloridflourishfloweryformformulatefouled upframefrillyfudge togetherfussyget upgildgloriousgo intogongoresquegongoristicgordian
Adjective(15 words)
detaileddetailed accountdetailed explanationdetailed life historydetailed orderdetailed treatiseelaboratedexcessive decorationfancierfanciestfancy wordsflorid detailflorid prosefull scalefussy design
Noun(10 words)
detailed future plansdetailingdetailing processembellishingexpandingexpatiatingfleshfleshingflindosagerman artikulieren
Related words (177)
grandgrandiosehammerhighhigh-wroughthyperelegantimplicatedimposingimpressiveinditeindustriousinterpretintricateinvolutedinvolveinvolvedknottedknottylaborlabored
Show 115 more words
labyrinthianlabyrinthinelingerload with ornamentloused uplushluxuriantluxuriousmagnificentmajesticmakemake upmanneredmanufacturemany-facetedmarinisticmattedmaturemaximizemazymeanderingmessed upmixed upmoldmoresquemouldmouldermouldymucked upmultifariousnobleoperoseornamentornateostentatiousoverchargeoverdoneoverelaborateoverelegantoverlaboredoverlayoverloadoverniceoverrefinedoverworkedoverwroughtpainstakingpalatialparticularizepatch togetherperfectperplexedpicturesquepiece togetherplushpolishposhprecieuseprecieuxpreciousprefabricatepreparepretentiouspretty-prettyprincelyproduceproudput togetherput upraiseramifiedrearrefinerehearse in extensorelate at largerichripenritzyrococoroundaboutrun upscrewed upseasonsedulousset upshapeshowysnarledsophisticatedspell outsplendacioussplendidsplendiferousstatelystudiedsubtlesumptuoussuperbsuperfancysuperfineswankswankyswelltangledtanglythoroughthoroughgoingtrick outtwistedunfoldunnaturalvarnishwhomp upwork outwrite
Noun(7 words)
Verb(16 words)
Adjective(18 words)
intricate designintricate embroideryintricate fabric patternintricate flower patternintricate weaveslacierluxuriantmulticellular organism complexityornamentalornate borderornate designornate dictionornate paisley patternornate proseplusherpolished languagerelevant detailssmall detail
Adverb(1 words)
more complex life form
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: expand, expound, refine, adorn, adorn.
- Sentence evidence is available for elaborate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, 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 "elaborate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "elaborate"
Keep "elaborate" 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 "elaborate" 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 "elaborate", 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 "elaborate" 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
19 entriesShowing 16 of 19 words.
More specific
14 entriescomplex procedurecomprehensive argumentdetailed blueprintdetailed diagramdetailed explanationembellished motiffiligree patternfloral motifintricate patternornate borderornate carvingstepwise clarificationthorough descriptionthorough plan
Collocations
8 entrieselaborate ceremonyelaborate decorationelaborate descriptionelaborate designelaborate diagramelaborate explanationelaborate mechanismelaborate plan
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
7 entriessimilar
4 entriesTranslations
39 translations across 21 languages.
Armenian
1 entries- մանրամասնել verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Bulgarian
2 entries- доразвивам verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- изпипвам verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Catalan
1 entries- aprofundir verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Czech
2 entries- rozpracovat verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- rozvést verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Dutch
1 entries- uitweiden verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Estonian
2 entries- viimistlema verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- välja töötama verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Finnish
4 entries- kehitellä verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- käsitellä yksityiskohtaisemmin verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- selittää tarkemmin verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- täsmentää verb (to give further detail or explanation)
French
1 entries- approfondir verb (to give further detail or explanation)
German
1 entries- ausführen verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Greek
1 entries- εμβαθύνω verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Hindi
1 entries- विस्तृत verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Hungarian
1 entries- kifejt verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Italian
2 entries- approfondire verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- dettagliare verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Kazakh
2 entries- дамыту verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- тәптіштеу verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Persian
1 entries- شرح دادن verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Polish
1 entries- rozwinąć verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Portuguese
1 entries- argumentar verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Russian
4 entries- вдава́ться в подро́бности verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- конкретизи́ровать verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- развива́ть verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- разраба́тывать verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Spanish
4 entries- ahondar verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- argumentar verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- expandir verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- explayar verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Swedish
2 entries- elaborera verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- utveckla verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Thai
2 entries- ขยาย verb (to give further detail or explanation)
- ขยายความ verb (to give further detail or explanation)
Sample sentences
17 total sentences available.
Well, I clean the rooms, do the laundry, or cook an elaborate supper.
Source: tatoeba (51126)
Some species gradually develop elaborate repertoires of dozens or even hundreds of variants of a basic song.
Source: tatoeba (66553)
America has an elaborate system of constitutional checks and balances.
Source: tatoeba (67602)
Showing 4 of 17 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "elaborate"?
Closest matches include expand, expound, refine, adorn, adorn.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "elaborate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.