flam·boy·ant
flam-ˈbȯi-ənt 
1
: marked by or given to strikingly elaborate or colorful display or behavior
a flamboyant performer
2
often capitalized
: characterized by waving curves suggesting flames
flamboyant tracery
flamboyant architecture
flamboyantly
adverb
Did you know?
Flamboyant, which was borrowed into English from French in the 19th century, can be traced back to Old French flambe, meaning "flame." In its earliest uses flamboyant referred to a style of architecture, often in the florid French Gothic style, which featured waving curves that suggested flames. Eventually, the word developed a more general second sense for anything eye-catching or showy. And of course, Old French flambe is also the origin of the English adjective flambé.
Examples of flamboyant in a Sentence
Adjective
Crazy artists, or flamboyant ones, can be strangely comforting. We feel we understand where their visions come from; we're lulled by the symmetry of turbulent art and turbulent lives.
—
Stephen Schiff, New Yorker, 28 Dec. 1992–4 Jan. 1993
Equally flamboyant is the group's singer, Andy Bell, who prances around the stage dressed at various times like an astronaut, a space creature or a Mexican senorita.
—Jim Farber, Video Review, August 1990
… he was living in the flamboyant, urbane manner he craved, in an apartment that suited his Balzacian fantasies of success …
—Raymond Sokolov, Wayward Reporter, 1980
the flamboyant gestures of the conductor
has a gallery of flamboyant gestures that makes him easy to imitate
Stephen Schiff, New Yorker, 28 Dec. 1992–4 Jan. 1993
Equally flamboyant is the group's singer, Andy Bell, who prances around the stage dressed at various times like an astronaut, a space creature or a Mexican senorita.
—Jim Farber, Video Review, August 1990
… he was living in the flamboyant, urbane manner he craved, in an apartment that suited his Balzacian fantasies of success …
—Raymond Sokolov, Wayward Reporter, 1980
the flamboyant gestures of the conductor
has a gallery of flamboyant gestures that makes him easy to imitate
Recent Examples on the Web
Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 10 May 2025
Similarly, nearly all of Flannery’s inspirations for the Gemstones’ style are known for their flamboyant dress.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
Paul Smecker, 'The Boondock Saints' (1999) The cult hit contains one of Dafoe's most flamboyant efforts, complete with random river-dancing, a prostitute costume change and lyrical dancing during a gunfight.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
For Cornett, the damage is already done—her reputation tarnished, her safety threatened, and her life disrupted by an internet rumor amplified by a flamboyant personality on a massive platform.
—Nicole Kraft, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flamboyant
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Adjective
Felicity’s more flamboyant persona, meanwhile, is very glam black leather with silver trim.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 10 May 2025
Similarly, nearly all of Flannery’s inspirations for the Gemstones’ style are known for their flamboyant dress.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
Paul Smecker, 'The Boondock Saints' (1999) The cult hit contains one of Dafoe's most flamboyant efforts, complete with random river-dancing, a prostitute costume change and lyrical dancing during a gunfight.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
For Cornett, the damage is already done—her reputation tarnished, her safety threatened, and her life disrupted by an internet rumor amplified by a flamboyant personality on a massive platform.
—Nicole Kraft, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flamboyant
Cite this Entry
“Flamboyant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flamboyant. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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