Decorative
What it means
Designed chiefly to add beauty or visual interest.
Reach for it when identifying an attractive feature whose main purpose is appearance
A decorative screen softened the view of the storage area.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
Fits when current taste makes the feature appealing
Careful Stylish objects can be functional, and decorative pieces can be intentionally traditional.
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everyday
patterned
Fits when repeated shapes or colors create the visual interest
Careful Patterned names one treatment and excludes plain sculptures or trim that are still decorative.
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warm
Fits when imagination and creative expression deserve credit
Careful A mass-produced border may be decorative without showing notable artistry.
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professional
Fits when an image of landscape or setting is the ornament
Careful Scenic is too specific for geometric, floral, or abstract decoration.
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formal
Fits when beauty rather than practical function is explicit
Careful Ornamental can suggest needless excess when the feature also performs useful work.
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literary
embellishing
Fits when the feature adds richness to an existing design
Careful It describes the action of enhancement less naturally than a stable design category.
Opposites 3
- functional
- plain
- utilitarian
Common phrases 3
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decorative border
A decorative border separates the recipe from the family notes.
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decorative feature
The carved vent is both a practical and decorative feature.
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decorative object
One decorative object gives the quiet shelf a focal point.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated