What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
adorn
Example
The bride's hair was adorned with a beautiful tiara. [adorned: past participle]
Example
The walls of the room were adorned with paintings and tapestries. [adorn: verb]
garnish
Example
The chef garnished the dish with fresh herbs and lemon zest. [garnished: past participle]
Example
The cocktail was garnished with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint. [garnish: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Garnish is more commonly used than adorn in everyday language, especially in the context of food and drink presentation. Adorn is less common and tends to be used in more formal or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between adorn and garnish?
Adorn has a more formal and elegant connotation, making it suitable for use in formal or specialized contexts, while garnish has a more casual and playful connotation, making it more suitable for use in informal or everyday contexts.
