Synonyms of beautify

beautify

verb

ˈbyü-tə-ˌfī 

as in to decorate

to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming

volunteers beautified the roadside landscape by planting flowers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decorate
• adorn
• enrich
• embellish
• drape
• trim
• ornament
• paint
• dress
• deck
• festoon
• grace
• bedeck
• garnish
• pretty (up)
• array
• emboss
• fancify
• do
• brighten
• blazon
• accessorize
• freshen
• gussy up
• bedizen
• caparison
• glitz (up)
• doll up
• fancy up
• emblaze
• embroider
• trick (out)
• do up
• smarten
• trap
• gild
• spruce (up)
• chase
• hang
• dress up
• ribbon
• redecorate
• braid
• figure
• fringe
• garland
• wreathe
• fillet
• gem
• diamond
• redo
• boss
• jewel
• pearl
• feather
• lace
• frill
• appliqué
• swag
• filigree
• furbelow
• impearl
• flounce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disfigure
• simplify
• deface
• spoil
• scar
• mar
• streamline
• display
• reveal
• expose
• dismantle
• uncover
• blemish
• bare
• strip
• divest
• denude
• uglify

Synonym Chooser

How is the word beautify different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of beautify are adorn, deck, decorate, embellish, garnish, and ornament. While all these words mean "to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential," beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness.

will beautify the grounds with flower beds

Where would adorn be a reasonable alternative to beautify?

Although the words adorn and beautify have much in common, adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself.

a diamond necklace adorned her neck

When is deck a more appropriate choice than beautify?

In some situations, the words deck and beautify are roughly equivalent. However, deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness.

a house all decked out for Christmas

When could decorate be used to replace beautify?

The synonyms decorate and beautify are sometimes interchangeable, but decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design.

decorate a birthday cake

When is it sensible to use embellish instead of beautify?

The meanings of embellish and beautify largely overlap; however, embellish often stresses the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament.

embellish a page with floral borders

When can garnish be used instead of beautify?

While in some cases nearly identical to beautify, garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food.

an entrée garnished with parsley

How do ornament and embellish relate to one another, in the sense of beautify?

Both ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original.

a white house ornamented with green shutters

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of beautify

As redevelopment of the historic Brookhill Village complex in South End moves forward, developers are looking for funds to extend and beautify roadways in the enclave. — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026

Some of the best outdoor upgrades can be updating necessary parts of your home, like your windows, which can beautify outdoor aesthetics with certain color and style choice. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2026

Adopting a bench costs $7,517 for a 10‑year lease, and the program helps beautify public spaces while creating lasting tributes. — Debby Rice, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026

As Washington is beautified at great expense, officials told me, vital needs at dozens of national parks are not being filled. — Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026