flashier; flashiest
1
chiefly dialectal : lacking in substance or flavor : insipid
2
: momentarily dazzling
3
a
: superficially attractive or impressive
b
: ostentatious or showy often beyond the bounds of good taste
especially : marked by gaudy brightness
flashily adverb
flashiness noun
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those who dismiss Mugler as only a flashy showman do so at their own risk. Mark Holgate, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025 Focus on what feels sustainable rather than flashy. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025 He was known as steady rather than flashy, walking away with two championships, a lasting place in Giants history, and the respect of teammates who valued his calm in chaos. Jp Mangalindan, Time, 30 Sep. 2025 This comes as Fort Lauderdale, especially its affluent downtown area, is experiencing a flurry of flashy real estate developments, young professionals moving in and overall economic growth. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flashy

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flashy was in 1593

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flashy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flashy. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

flashy

adjective
flashier; flashiest
: gaudy
flashily adverb
flashiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on flashy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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