flashy

adjective

ˈfla-shē 

flashier; flashiest

1

: momentarily dazzling

2

a

: superficially attractive or impressive

… moving beyond the glitz and pizzazz of the flashy technology to teach true literacy …

—Barbara Jones-Kavalier and Suzanne Flannigan

b

: ostentatious or showy often beyond the bounds of good taste

driving around in flashy cars

especially : marked by gaudy brightness

flashy colors

3

chiefly dialectal : lacking in substance or flavor : insipid

flashily

ˈfla-shə-lē 

adverb

flashiness

ˈfla-shē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of flashy

• stylish
• snazzy
• fashionable
• splashy
• neat
• jazzy
• chic
• loud
• cool
• fresh
• custom
• designer

Choose the Right Synonym for flashy

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

Examples of flashy in a Sentence

rich young men who drive flashy cars

I bought the CD primarily for its flashy cover design.

Recent Examples on the Web

Postwar Hiroshima was a popular setting for these movie gangsters, who fought dirty, had no use for the old ceremonies, and wore flashy suits and aviator shades. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

These are the sort of family haulers buyers tend to cross-shop for rather than fall blindly in love with, so styling and a flashy cabin alone won't cut it. — New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026

Panay is known as an effusive onstage showman, making product launches a flashy, intimate affair that feels closer to Apple’s past legendary showcases than to the overwhelming Amazon events that predated him. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

While debates about building AI that surpasses human intelligence, flashy new gadgets and AI spending tend to dominate tech events, tech talks at last week’s Oakland Tech Week often had a different vibe. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for flashy

• ashy
• trashy

Kids Definition

flashy

adjective

ˈflash-ē 

flashier; flashiest

: gaudy

flashily

ˈflash-ə-lē 

adverb

flashiness

ˈflash-ē-nəs 

noun