Further elaboration or ornament would only detract from the perfection of its simplicity.
Source: tatoeba (2119612)
Elaboration
Synonyms for "elaboration" (141 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (29)
Strong matches (42)
decordecorationdevelopmentdevelopmental changedevisingdilationdwelling uponembellishmentemblazonmentemblazonryembroideryenlargementerectionevolutionevolutionary changeevolvementevolvingexpansionexpatiationexplication
Show 12 more words
extractionfabricationfashioningflourishflower arrangementfloweringformationformingformulationframingfurniture arrangementfurtherance
Noun(10 words)
detailed plandetailingdetailing processdevelopmentelaboratenesselaboratingembellishingenlargementexpatiatingfleshing
Related words (70)
garnishgarnishmentgarnituregoing overgradual changegrowinggrowthhandicrafthandiworkharvestingilluminationiterationmachiningmakingmanufacturemanufacturingmaturationmillingminingmolding
Show 44 more words
natural developmentnatural growthnonviolent changeornamentornamentationperfectionpracticingprefabricationpreparationprocessingproducingprogressprogressionraisingreaffirmationrecaprecapitulationrecitalrecountalrecountingrefinementrefiningrehashrehearsalreissuereiterationreprintrestatementresumeretellingreviewripeningriseseasoningshapingsmeltingsummarysumming uptrimtrimmingunfoldingwindow dressingworking-outworkmanship
Noun(6 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: amplification, expansion, refinement, accomplishment, adjunct.
- Sentence evidence is available for elaboration, 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 "elaboration".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "elaboration"
Keep "elaboration" 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 "elaboration" 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 "elaboration", 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 "elaboration" 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
14 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriesdetailed elaborationelaboration of hypotheseselaboration processelaboration stageextensive elaborationtheory elaboration
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
8 total sentences available.
The depth of the debates has decreased, as the new forms of social media do not provide enough space for the elaboration of long arguments.
Source: tatoeba (2147800)
This summary is too succinct; it needs further elaboration to make it understandable.
Source: tatoeba (6634957)
The great elaboration and variety in the form and structure of the house-roof almost merits the dignity of a separate section. For it is mainly to the roof that the Japanese house owes its picturesque appearance; it is the roof which gives to the houses that novelty and variety which is so noticeable among them in different parts of the country. The lines of a well-made thatched roof are something quite remarkable in their proportions.
Source: tatoeba (11171661)
Showing 4 of 8 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "elaboration"?
Closest matches include amplification, expansion, refinement, accomplishment, adjunct.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "elaboration"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.