gaudy

1 of 3

adjective

gau·​dy ˈgȯ-dē 

ˈgä-

gaudier; gaudiest

1

: ostentatiously or tastelessly ornamented

gaudy costumes

2

: marked by extravagance or sometimes tasteless showiness : outlandish

gaudy lies

gaudy claims

also : exceptional

a gaudy batting average

gaudily

ˈgȯ-də-lē 

ˈgä-

adverb

gaudiness

ˈgȯ-dē-nəs 

ˈgä-

noun

gaudy

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural gaudies

: a feast or entertainment especially in the form of an annual college dinner at a British university

gaudiness

3 of 3

noun (2)

gaud·​i·​ness -dēnə̇s 

-din-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being gaudy : showiness

Synonyms of gaudy

Adjective

• loud
• noisy
• garish
• flashy

Choose the Right Synonym for gaudy

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 gaudy in a Sentence

Adjective

The showgirls wore gaudy costumes.

They bought the house for a gaudy sum.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Buss family’s legacy includes pioneering basketball as both a game and a party, a refined beauty and a gaudy extravaganza. — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Annese has a similar track record, compiling gaudy win-loss numbers at high school and junior college programs before getting a head coaching gig at Division II Ferris State. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

The crafty wolf often relies on gaudy disguises to accomplish his schemes. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026

All this scattershot world-building and world-visiting allows for some colorfully diverting vignettes, in which production designer Alexandra Walker and costume designer Ann Maskrey get to show off their giddy, gaudy wares. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

gaud + -y entry 1

Noun (1)

probably from Latin gaudium joy — more at joy

First Known Use

Adjective

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1651, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gaudy

• bawdy
• body
• khadi
• mahdi
• noddy
• oddi
• shoddy
• toddy
• waddy
• afterbody
• antibody
• busybody

Kids Definition

gaudy

adjective

ˈgȯd-ē, 

ˈgäd-

gaudier; gaudiest

: overly or tastelessly ornamented

gaudily

ˈgȯd-ᵊl-ē, 

ˈgäd-

adverb

gaudiness

-ēnəs

noun