What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
embellish
Example
She decided to embellish her dress with some sequins. [embellish: verb]
Example
The author used vivid descriptions to embellish the story and make it more engaging. [embellish: verb]
Example
He embellished his resume to make himself seem more qualified for the job. [embellished: past participle]
ornament
Example
She hung a beautiful ornament on the Christmas tree. [ornament: noun]
Example
The cake was ornamented with delicate icing flowers. [ornamented: past participle]
Example
He used various ornaments to decorate the living room for the party. [ornaments: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ornament is more commonly used than embellish in everyday language. Ornament is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while embellish is less common and often used in more formal or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between embellish and ornament?
While ornament can be used in both formal and informal contexts, embellish is more formal and is often used in literature or academic writing.
