ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

1

: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style

is clear and simple rather than ornate and pompous

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

2

: elaborately or excessively decorated

an ornate mantle

an ornate townhouse

ornate chandeliers

ornately adverb

ornateness noun

Synonyms

• bedizened
• florid
• fussy
• gingerbread
• gingerbreaded
• gingerbready
• overdecorated
• overwrought

Examples of ornate in a Sentence

She doesn't like ornate jewelry.

an ornate gambling casino that is designed to look like an Italian palace

Recent Examples on the Web

Painted the shade of Coca-Cola, a brooding burgundy-brown that pops against the English mahogany table’s white chairs, they are lined with tomes that peek through ornate metal screens. —Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2024

Salma Hayek Pinault — the movie star wife of Kering President and CEO (and CAA owner) François-Henri Pinault — paired her custom black Gucci gown with a Boucheron high-jewelry necklace crafted of rock crystal and diamonds, an ornate design that required more than 5,000 hours to complete. —Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Sep. 2024

The Prada dress featured an ornate print of lipstick tubes in various red and pink shades with silver applicators against a black base. —Julia Teti, WWD, 10 Sep. 2024

Those with ornate or complex designs and patterns tend to be reversed for more formal affairs. —Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ornat, from Latin ornatus, past participle of ornare to furnish, embellish; akin to Latin ordo order — more at order

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

: decorated in a fancy way

ornately adverb

ornateness noun