gaudy

¹gau·dy

adjective \ˈgȯ-dē, ˈgä-\

gaud·i·ergaud·i·est

Definition of GAUDY

1

: ostentatiously or tastelessly ornamented

2

: marked by extravagance or sometimes tasteless showiness : outlandish <gaudy lies> <gaudy claims>; also : exceptional <a gaudy batting average>

— gaud·i·ly \ˈgȯ-də-lē, ˈgä-\ adverb

— gaud·i·ness \ˈgȯ-dē-nəs, ˈgä-\ noun

Examples of GAUDY

1. The showgirls wore gaudy costumes.
2. They bought the house for a gaudy sum.

First Known Use of GAUDY

1582

Related to GAUDY

Synonyms

flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, glitzy, loud, noisy, ostentatious, razzle-dazzle, splashy, swank (or swanky)

Antonyms

conservative, quiet, understated, unflamboyant, unflashy

Related Words

excessive, extravagant, fulsome, hammy, overdone, over-the-top, overwrought; pretentious; baroque, bedizened, ornate; fancy, snazzy, zooty; blaring, bright, florid, glaring, glittery, overbright, spectacular; graceless, inelegant, lurid, tacky, tasteless, tawdry, tinselly, vulgar

Near Antonyms

appropriate, fitting, proper; inconspicuous, muted, restrained, subdued, toned (down), unobtrusive; elegant, graceful, tasteful; modest, plain, simple, unpretentious

Synonym Discussion of GAUDY

gaudy, tawdry, garish, flashy, meretricious mean vulgarly or cheaply showy. gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation <circus performers in gaudy costumes>. tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy <tawdry saloons>. garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright <garish neon signs>. flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar <a flashy nightclub act>. meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise <a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars>.

Rhymes with GAUDY

bawdy

²gaudy

noun

plural gaudies

Definition of GAUDY

: a feast or entertainment especially in the form of an annual college dinner at a British university

Origin of GAUDY

probably from Latin gaudium joy — more at joy

First Known Use: 1651

Rhymes with GAUDY

body, cloddy, Mahdi, noddy, shoddy, toddy, waddy, wadi