BEAUTIFY Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'beautify' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of beautify are adorn , deck , decorate , embellish , garnish , and ornament . While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness. // will beautify the grounds with flower beds

Q: Where would 'adorn' be a reasonable alternative to 'beautify'?

Although the words adorn and beautify have much in common, adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself. // a diamond necklace adorned her neck

Q: When is 'deck' a more appropriate choice than 'beautify'?

In some situations, the words deck and beautify are roughly equivalent. However, deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness. // a house all decked out for Christmas

Q: When could 'decorate' be used to replace 'beautify'?

The synonyms decorate and beautify are sometimes interchangeable, but decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design. // decorate a birthday cake

Q: When is it sensible to use 'embellish' instead of 'beautify'?

The meanings of embellish and beautify largely overlap; however, embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament. // embellish a page with floral borders

Q: When can 'garnish' be used instead of 'beautify'?

While in some cases nearly identical to beautify , garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food. // an entrée garnished with parsley

Q: How do 'ornament' and 'embellish' relate to one another, in the sense of 'beautify'?

Both ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original. // a white house ornamented with green shutters

beautify

verb

ˈbyü-tə-ˌfī

Definition of beautify next

as in to decorate

to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming volunteers beautified the roadside landscape by planting flowers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word beautify different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of beautify are adorn, deck, decorate, embellish, garnish, and ornament. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

Where would adorn be a reasonable alternative to beautify?

Although the words adorn and beautify have much in common, adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself.

a diamond necklace adorned her neck

When is deck a more appropriate choice than beautify?

In some situations, the words deck and beautify are roughly equivalent. However, deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

When could decorate be used to replace beautify?

The synonyms decorate and beautify are sometimes interchangeable, but decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

When is it sensible to use embellish instead of beautify?

The meanings of embellish and beautify largely overlap; however, embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

When can garnish be used instead of beautify?

While in some cases nearly identical to beautify, garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.

an entrée garnished with parsley

How do ornament and embellish relate to one another, in the sense of beautify?

Both ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original.

a white house ornamented with green shutters

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of beautify The Westminster funds will prioritize several efforts, including hiring a Little Saigon outreach coordinator in City Hall, redeveloping and beautifying storefronts, and working with a landscape architect to assess the needs of public spaces along busy main streets. —

Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025 The spa features biohacking treatments, exclusive beautifying therapies by high-end Hungarian brand Omorovicza, and a series of outdoor baths and infrared saunas. —

Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025 The grant is going to help beautify these space but alos help kids invest in their neighborhood, said Meg Bruzan, who is part of the six-member all volunteer board of We Got This. —

La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Venus in Leo wants to beautify your sanctuary. —

Usa Today, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beautify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautify

Verb

In 1995, the Château de Wideville, built in 1580, was purchased and French interior designer Henri Samuel was tasked to decorate it.

— Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
With that time, his family celebrated Jacob’s 14th birthday, and decorated his hospital room with LED lights and balloons.

— Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2025

Definition of decorate

Cite this Entry

Style

“Beautify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beautify. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 29 Oct 2025 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of beautify

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

deliquesce

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Popular in Wordplay

8 Real (and Perceived) Redundant Words

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Real (and Perceived) Redundant Words

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of beautify

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Share

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

deliquesce

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Popular in Wordplay

8 Real (and Perceived) Redundant Words

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Real (and Perceived) Redundant Words

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Games & Quizzes