1
as in to horse around
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
the athletes warmed up, happily showing off for the crowd before the match officially started
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to display
to present so as to invite notice or attention
she just wants to show off her new jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hotshot
informal + disapproving
a person who tries to impress other people with his or her abilities or possessions
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of show off
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who are co-captains of Founders FFC, both showed off Rolexes at the event on Wednesday.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2026
Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
Otherwise, this is a visually stunning chassis that will satisfy patient-building component show-offs.
—PCMAG, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for show off
Verb
The running back became an instant fan favorite last season, scoring seven touchdowns in as many games while showing off his bulldozing abilities before a gruesome ankle injury cut his season short.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who are co-captains of Founders FFC, both showed off Rolexes at the event on Wednesday.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
In This Article Take It Easy With Greens Pick a Combo With Staying Power
Rely On Dependable Winners
The Three Rules of Container TLC
These summer show-off container gardens will brighten up any porch or patio all season long—even in the Southern heat.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
Otherwise, this is a visually stunning chassis that will satisfy patient-building component show-offs.
—PCMAG, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for show off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for show off
Verb
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Bevel was horsing around with the Reverend James Orange and Andy Young in the courtyard under King's balcony, according to Orange.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
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But Andrew continued to live at the home and was often seen riding his horse around Windsor Great Park and photographed waving to crowds.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Acme dealt with this by displaying alternate forecast lines for both rain and snow, coded in different colors—a visualization that doubled as an admission that the forecast that day was a bit of a mess.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said military chaplains would no longer display their rank insignia.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The trade floor was awash with ’empty’ books that were part of a protest being run by former Silicon Valley hotshot Ed Newton-Rex, who managed to get 10,000 authors to put their name behind the stunt.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
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Maybe that’s because the interiors have a certain plainness — one that’s accurate to Georgian classicism but boring to Hollywood hotshots.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When the singing was done Ma Binney brought me back to her tent and cut up a tomato, put it between two slices of bread, and served it to me on a china plate taken from a wooden chest next to her bed-roll.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Use saws to cut up larger branches before disposal, while flagging and avoiding anything dangerous.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Close to three dozen firms have registered to lobby the federal government on issues related to energy and defense since Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran in late February, disclosures show.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
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The Panthers are comfortable with Hubbard toting the ball, and Etienne — a fourth-round pick last year — has shown some flashes.—
Mike Kaye
March 26,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The wise guys already view Denver suspiciously, casting them with the 12th-best odds to reach the Super Bowl next February.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
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Framing wise guys on murder charges for Whitey Bulger, looking the other way on a gangland hit by a BPD detective in Canton in 1976, the list of scandals is too great to even list them all.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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Bella Ramsey takes a break from killing zombies and avenging father figures, their usual pastimes in series The Last of Us, to fool around and fall in love in Sunny Dancer, a decidedly uneven but fitfully charming, YA-skewed British comedy-drama.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jacobs is a real find as Matt, exhibiting a touch of honesty and authenticity that matches his co-star’s in every way.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2026
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He has been commissioned by the BBC and Barbican and exhibited his work internationally.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Show off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/show%20off. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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