as in ornamentation
decoration that consists of delicate and complicated designs made of fine gold or silver wire
a surface decorated with filigree and pearls
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as in to ribbon
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of filigree
Pete Wells, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024
For all of the science-fiction filigree, the thrust of the series is emotional — especially, though not entirely, as regards Jo and Alice, who don’t quite recognize each other, and the family drama that Magnus completes.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024
Alex Davies, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2019
In contrast to the historic skyscraper’s filigreed crown of flying buttresses and pinnacles, the top of the new one would consist of curving glass walls extending beyond the building’s occupied floors.
—Blair Kamin and Ryan Ori, chicagotribune.com, 16 Apr. 2018
See All Example Sentences for filigree
Noun
There were filigrees of wildflowers, mysterious little tuna-belly creatures with mustard-seed eyes and microgreen antennae, and something that looked like a slice of black truffle but melted like butter.
—Pete Wells, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024
For all of the science-fiction filigree, the thrust of the series is emotional — especially, though not entirely, as regards Jo and Alice, who don’t quite recognize each other, and the family drama that Magnus completes.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024
Verb
Another helpful move was using what Bugatti calls filigree side view mirrors, which let air pass through them.
—Alex Davies, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2019
In contrast to the historic skyscraper’s filigreed crown of flying buttresses and pinnacles, the top of the new one would consist of curving glass walls extending beyond the building’s occupied floors.
—Blair Kamin and Ryan Ori, chicagotribune.com, 16 Apr. 2018
See All Example Sentences for filigree
Recent Examples of Synonyms for filigree
Noun
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The record itself is pretty stripped down, with a small combo and not a lot of ornamentation.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
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Pope Francis’s tweaks are mostly focused on simplifying the ceremonies and eliminating unnecessary ornamentation.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Here’s a peek at the new flavors and some of the ingredients that inspired them: Lemon curd & whey This light and citrusy flavor uses whey as a substitute for lemon juice to make lemon curd that ribbons throughout the ice cream base.—
oregonlive,
oregonlive,
24 May 2023
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Introduce the color in small doses: a throw on the couch, ribbon on a wreath, trim around a lampshade, or even gift wrap on the packages.—
Savanna Bous,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Nov. 2022
Noun
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Distinguished by its lack of ornament, the building overlooks historic Michaelerplatz.—
Hannah Martin,
Architectural Digest,
25 Mar. 2025
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The ornaments were first in Spiegel’s catalog and offered wholesale to retailers Kress, Woolworth’s and Eagle’s throughout the country.—
Catherine Muccigrosso,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Seasoned runners and beginners lacing up for their first long-distance race both need the right gear to get to the finish line.—
Christopher Murray,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2025
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At his peak, Rich Harrison was an unstoppable percussive force, lacing artists like Amerie and Beyoncé with breathless, stars-shooting instrumentation for some of their greatest hits.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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See the Best Photos of the Hollywood Heartthrob Over the Years 04 of 14 'The Great Gatsby' Broadway Musical The lavish parties and glitter of Gatsby’s world are perfect for a Broadway musical, and the production directed by Marc Brunidoes does not disappoint.—
Danielle Teller,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Then again, each generation’s Times Square is different from the next, though all are some amalgam of the tawdry and the brilliant, of decay and glitter.—
Frank Rich,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Lenses can also suffer from a malaise known as chromatic aberration, in which different wavelengths of light are refracted to slightly different degrees so that different colors come to focus at different points, resulting in color fringing around objects.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
20 Mar. 2025
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Her eyewear was usually cushioned by her coiffed blonde hair; her beauty aesthetic built intentionally around ‘notes on bangs’: From side-swept to feathery wisps, thick curtains, and a pixie fringed trim.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The technique could also be seen via the hand-cut silk wool cascading petal embroideries that undulated down her new Octavia and Adeline gowns.—
Emily Mercer,
Footwear News,
9 Apr. 2025
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So that detail was doing a bit of embroidery on the relationship.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The ownership ranks were garlanded by a phalanx of Bollywood stars and cricketing legends.—
Rory Smith,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
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Warwick Davis, the British actor who has played various roles in the Star Wars franchise, got a tribute from Luke Skywalker himself as he was garlanded with BAFTA’s highest honor.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Filigree.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/filigree. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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