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View synonyms for embroider

embroider

[ em-broi-der ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to decorate with ornamental needlework.
  2. to produce or form in needlework.
  3. to adorn or embellish rhetorically, especially with ornate language or fictitious details:

    He embroidered the account of the shipwreck to hold his listeners' interest.

    Synonyms: fancify, color, exaggerate, elaborate



verb (used without object)

  1. to do embroidery.
  2. to add embellishments; exaggerate (often followed by on or upon ).

embroider

/ ɪmˈbrɔɪdə /

verb

  1. to do decorative needlework (upon)
  2. to add fictitious or fanciful detail to (a story)
  3. to add exaggerated or improbable details to (an account of an event, etc)


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Derived Forms

  • emˈbroiderer, noun

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Other Words From

  • em·broider·er noun
  • over·em·broider verb (used with object)
  • unem·broidered adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of embroider1

1350–1400; em- 1 + broider; replacing Middle English embroderen, frequentative of embroden < Middle French embro ( u ) der, equivalent to em- em- 1 + Old French brosder, derivative of brosd < Germanic ( brad )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of embroider1

C15: from Old French embroder; see em- en- 1, broider

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Example Sentences

It’s not her denim jacket with “Section 230” embroidered on the back.

From Digiday

The words embroidered on the sack made her realize that she had found something special.

The sack was embroidered in 1921 by a woman named Ruth Middleton with 10 short lines relaying the history of her female ancestors, including her grandmother Ashley.

Metchnikoff earned the nickname “Quicksilver” because he was in constant motion, always wanting to see, taste, and try everything, from studying how his father played card games to learning to sew and embroider with the maids.

First came 1955's Beezus and Ramona, the story of poor, long-suffering elder sister Beezus, who just wants to sit quietly and embroider potholders.

From Vox

He does not feel the need to embroider every note with a facial expression or a flick of the wrist.

It also takes years of training to be able to sew, embroider, bead, and otherwise embellish these clothes.

When Christian tries to speak for himself and says "I love you," Roxane instructs him to "Embroider it."

The women of the interior spin and weave for their household, and they also embroider very beautifully.

The girls used to sit about indoors and embroider—oh, everlastingly!

I am glad that one of my friends was artistic enough to embroider some fine handkerchiefs for me with a beautiful initial.

Madame Rasmussen sat down to embroider some cushions to put in the window, for the chaplain could not bear the slightest draught.

She may do needlework or embroider altar-cloths, but she must not shoot with a pistolet or play with a sword.

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