Words of Positivity
Browse the A to Z index4,633 ENTRIES

Ornamental

adj.joyful, calmprofessional

What it means

Made or chosen to add beauty.

Reach for it when describing something chosen mainly to add visual beauty

Ornamental grasses brought movement and color to the winter garden.

Choose between these

6
  • playful

    showy

    conspicuous visual display is intended

    not when Showy often carries criticism.

  • everyday

    decorative

    the object's beautifying role is plain

    not when Decorative can still have a practical function.

  • professional

    aesthetic

    visual or artistic considerations lead

    not when Aesthetic is broader and often misused as a synonym for attractive.

  • professional

    embellished

    extra detail enriches a base form

    not when Embellishment can become excessive.

  • formal

    adorned

    decoration has been applied to an object

    not when Adorned describes condition, not purpose.

  • literary

    florid

    elaborate decoration is intentionally profuse

    not when Florid suggests excess and also describes prose.

Said against

3

It naturally appears in

3
  • ornamental grasses

    Ornamental grasses brought movement to the winter garden.

  • ornamental feature

    The arch is an ornamental feature rather than a support.

  • purely ornamental

    The brass latch was purely ornamental and did not secure the door.

Where this comes from

Ornamental identifies purpose, not ecological value, durability, or lack of function.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.