gaudy

1 of 2

adjective

gau·​dy ˈgȯ-dē How to pronounce gaudy (audio)
ˈgä-
gaudier; gaudiest
Synonyms of gaudynext
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 adverb
gaudiness noun

gaudy

2 of 2

noun

plural gaudies
: a feast or entertainment especially in the form of an annual college dinner at a British university
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
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.
Adjective
President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman has been candid this winter that the team’s gaudy revenues have shifted some of their decision-making. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026 After the family relocates to Connecticut from New York, Delia can’t help but turn their quaint, historical home into a gaudy spectacle full of terrible, modern-gothic artwork. Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026 Parks range from the volcanic sprawl of stone hoodoos crowning Chiricahua National Monument to the gaudy badlands of Petrified Forest National Park to the miles of seductive shoreline at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026 As baseball has evolved starting pitchers have seen their usage rate drop, meaning nobody is ever going to post the gaudy totals seen throughout the 20th century. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gaudy

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

gaud + -y entry 1

Noun

probably from Latin gaudium joy — more at joy

First Known Use

Adjective

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gaudy was in 1582

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gaudy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gaudy. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

gaudy

adjective
ˈgȯd-ē
ˈgäd-
gaudier; gaudiest
: overly or tastelessly ornamented
gaudily
ˈgȯd-ᵊl-ē
ˈgäd-
adverb
gaudiness
-ēnəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gaudy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster