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Glite Dictionary
nondecorative

nondecorative

4.7
Made or used for a practical purpose rather than decoration
  • adjective
  • /ˌnɒndɪˈkɔːrətɪv/
translation icon : no decorativa
  • He prefers using nondecorative furniture in his office to maintain a clean and functional look.

Examples

  • The building was designed with nondecorative materials to keep construction costs low.

  • The annuals among them thrive the first year, keeping nondecorative invaders from the tableau; then in the second year, perennials claim the site as their own.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The engineer focused on creating nondecorative solutions that improved the system's efficiency.

Synonyms

functional
vsnondecorative
49 3.7

Useful and practical rather than decorative

is used when the focus is solely on practical purpose rather than for show
unembellished
vsnondecorative
1 5.8

Plain and simple in appearance without extra decoration

is used when the item serves a practical function rather than for show
unornamented
vsnondecorative
6.7

Plain and not decorated, like a simple room or building

is used for items meant only for practical use rather than for show

Antonyms

decorative
49 3.9

To make something look attractive rather than to be useful

How Decorative

ornate
  • Literature
26 7.0
decorative
49 3.9
nondecorative
4.7

Surface Forms

nondecorative positive

Morphology

nondecorative = decorative (transparent) = non + decorate + ive

A straightforward negation of the adjective 'decorative' by the productive English prefix 'non-'.

Etymology

Nondecorative is made of non- meaning 'not' and decorative, which comes from decor meaning 'beauty' or 'decoration', like in 'home decor'. So nondecorative means 'not made for looks' and is used only for a practical purpose.