ornate

Pronunciation: adjective. Synonyms: embellished, ostentatious, florid

adjective

Definition of ornate

elaborately ornamented, often to excess

Synonyms for ornate

ornate in a Sentence

  1. The ballroom was adorned with ornate chandeliers and golden trim.

Why ornate Matters for GRE & SAT

"ornate" is a adjective that means "elaborately ornamented, often to excess" closely related to words like "embellished", "ostentatious", "florid". As a word starting with O, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.

On the GRE, understanding "ornate" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "ornate" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.

Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (adjective). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "ornate" into long-term memory.

How to Remember ornate

One effective way to remember "ornate" (adjective) is to group it with similar words you already know: "embellished" and "ostentatious" and "florid". When you encounter "ornate" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "elaborately ornamented, often to excess".

Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "ornate" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.

More Vocabulary Words Starting with O

  • obdurate — stubborn; unyielding
  • obdurate — stubborn; unyielding
  • obeisance — reverence for an individual
  • obeisance — reverence for an individual
  • obfuscate — obscure or confuse
  • obfuscate — obscure or confuse
  • objective — Not influenced by personal feelings; based on facts
  • objective — Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; impartial
  • objective — A thing aimed at or sought; not influenced by personal feelings
  • objective — Not influenced by personal feelings; based on facts