dandyism
noun
dan·dy·ism
ˈdan-dē-ˌi-zəm 
1
: the style or conduct of a dandy
2
: a literary and artistic style of the latter part of the 19th century marked by artificiality and excessive refinement
Examples of dandyism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The collected edition of Jünger’s interwar theorizing runs to nearly one thousand pages, and gives the impression less of an engaged political writer with a taste for dandyism than a dandy with a taste for politics.
—
Thomas Meaney, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2023
At his 1931 trial for tax evasion, federal prosecutors tried to weaponize his dandyism, trotting out his personal tailor who testified, in a not-so-subtle dig, that Capone’s favorite colors were green and canary.
—Amy Nicholson, WSJ, 17 Mar. 2022
One of the most striking trends in rock stardom these days is the return of male dandyism, spearheaded by Harry Styles.
—David Netto, Town & Country, 22 Feb. 2022
Chalamet was, by now, putting his own spin on modern dandyism with suits in magenta and pastel pink.
—CNN, 7 Sep. 2021
There was nothing racy beyond the dandyism of Whistler.
—Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2021
Another, equally striking portrait, by Giovanni Boldini, perfectly captures the count’s confident, posturing dandyism.
—Leo Damrosch, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2020
This period, the Regency era, was ground zero for British dandyism.
—Austin Grossman, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2019
These shoes add an edge of dandyism to the classic derby.
—Max Berlinger, GQ, 10 Jan. 2018
See More
Thomas Meaney, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2023
At his 1931 trial for tax evasion, federal prosecutors tried to weaponize his dandyism, trotting out his personal tailor who testified, in a not-so-subtle dig, that Capone’s favorite colors were green and canary.
—Amy Nicholson, WSJ, 17 Mar. 2022
One of the most striking trends in rock stardom these days is the return of male dandyism, spearheaded by Harry Styles.
—David Netto, Town & Country, 22 Feb. 2022
Chalamet was, by now, putting his own spin on modern dandyism with suits in magenta and pastel pink.
—CNN, 7 Sep. 2021
There was nothing racy beyond the dandyism of Whistler.
—Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2021
Another, equally striking portrait, by Giovanni Boldini, perfectly captures the count’s confident, posturing dandyism.
—Leo Damrosch, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2020
This period, the Regency era, was ground zero for British dandyism.
—Austin Grossman, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2019
These shoes add an edge of dandyism to the classic derby.
—Max Berlinger, GQ, 10 Jan. 2018
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dandyism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near dandyism
Cite this Entry
“Dandyism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dandyism. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share