Word
embellished
Phoneticsem·bel·lished, stress on the second syllable
US/ɛmˈbɛɫɪʃt/
UK/ɛmbˈɛlɪʃt/
Definition
adj. made more beautiful or interesting by adding extra details. It can describe an object with decorations or a story that has been made more exciting with extra facts.
adj. enhanced or decorated with additional details, whether physical ornamentation or narrative exaggerations. Often used as a participial adjective to describe prose or decorative arts.
Examples
“The dress is embellished with small gold beads.”
“He told an embellished version of the accident to make himself look like a hero.”
“The manuscript featured heavily embellished margins, filled with intricate gold leaf and vibrant illustrations that reflected the wealth of its original owner.”
Examples
simple
“The dress is embellished with small gold beads.”
contextual
“He told an embellished version of the accident to make himself look like a hero.”
complex
“The manuscript featured heavily embellished margins, filled with intricate gold leaf and vibrant illustrations that reflected the wealth of its original owner.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after 'be' or 'look', or attributively before a noun. When describing stories, it implies the addition of fictitious details.
Real-World Examples
“Davis and his defence team have argued that the book was co-authored and sections were embellished or fictionalised to make a profit, and they should not be viewed as direct admissions.” “It ticks all of their boxes.”
The controversy centred on allegations that Arday had plagiarised parts of his 2015 doctoral thesis and embellished details of his personal biography.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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