Elaborate
adj.thoughtful, capableprofessional
What it means
Made with many carefully developed details or interrelated parts.
Reach for it when praising intricacy when the detail adds craft or meaning
An elaborate mosaic maps the river from its springs to the harbor.
Choose between these
6- playful
when decoration or complexity can be named casually
not when Fancy can sound dismissive and may question whether the detail is useful.
- everyday
when completeness of information is the main virtue
not when Detailed work may be plain and linear rather than intricately designed.
- warm
when the maker's careful attention matters more than complexity
not when Meticulous describes care in execution, while elaborate describes the result's structure.
- professional
when advanced design or reasoning deserves praise
not when Sophistication concerns refinement, not necessarily visible detail.
- formal
intricate
when small connected parts create complexity
not when Intricate can signal difficulty without the scale or decorative richness of elaborate.
- literary
when abundant decoration defines the appearance
not when Ornate often implies excess and is wrong for complex but functional planning.
Said against
4- simple
- plain
- basic
- spare
It naturally appears in
3- elaborate design
The elaborate design hides a rainwater system beneath the courtyard.
- elaborate detail
One elaborate detail records every species found during the survey.
- elaborate ceremony
The elaborate ceremony gave each graduating apprentice a public role.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective, adjective sense meaning detailed and carefully arranged opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.