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Glite Dictionary
✨ Shiny decoration 🎭 Superficial show ✨ To decorate 🎭 To make flashy
to tinsel

to tinsel

7.8
To make something look bright but not really valuable
  • verb
  • /ˈtɪnsl/
translation icon : adornar con oropel
  • They tinsel the Christmas tree every year.

Examples

  • Critics argued that the director tinselled the story with unnecessary glitz.

  • Holiday commercials often tinsel everyday products to make them seem exciting.

  • The politician's speech was tinseled with empty promises and flashy rhetoric.

  • Don't tinsel your report just to impress the boss.

  • The holiday decorations were all tinselled, giving the room a festive look.

  • She tinselled her art project to make it more appealing to the judges.

  • His presentation was tinselled with flashy graphics that didn't add real substance.

Synonyms

to romanticize
vsto tinsel
  • US
23 6.7

Make something seem more attractive and ideal than it really is

uses surface sparkle rather than idealized emotional appeal
to dress up
vsto tinsel
12 2.9

Make something look better than it really is

focuses on cheap bright glamour lacking genuine value
to glamorize
vsto tinsel
  • US
12 5.8

To make someone or something look more attractive and exciting than they really are

leans on cheap bright glamour instead of sincere, deep appeal
to gussy
vsto tinsel
  • Informal
8 8.7

Make something or someone look fancier by adding decorations

adds cheap sparkle rather than meaningful or lasting improvement
to gussy up
vsto tinsel
  • Informal
5 8.6

To dress or decorate in a fancy way to look nicer

emphasizes bright surface glamour instead of durable quality
to look like a million dollars
vsto tinsel
  • Informal
2 6.7

Seem very attractive and stylish

refers to cheap showy brightness rather than genuine high quality
to tart up
vsto tinsel
  • UK
1 8.9

To make something or someone look bright and showy to attract attention

leans toward cheap sparkle rather than tasteful or lasting value
to glamourize
vsto tinsel
  • UK
1 6.3

Make something seem more attractive than it really is

focuses on showy glitter rather than true quality or value
to window-dress
vsto tinsel
7.9

To make something look better than it is to trick people

adds showy glittering surface without real worth

Antonyms

to understate
18 5.2

To make something seem smaller or less important than it really is

How Showy

to gild
5 7.0
to glamorize
  • US
12 5.8
to tinsel
7.8
to dress up
12 2.9
to spruce up
  • Informal
13 3.8

Surface Forms

tinsel infinitive
tinselled past
tinselled past participle
tinseling present participle
tinsels third person singular

Etymology

Tinsel can also mean to give something a cheap, bright glamour, because real tinsel shines but is not deep, and so to tinsel a thing is to make it seem nicer than it really is.