gaudy

1 of 2

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 2

noun

plural gaudies

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• flamboyant
• flaring
• flashy
• garish
• glitzy
• loud
• noisy
• ostentatious
• razzle-dazzle
• splashy
• swank
• swanky

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

To introduce a villain that so overtly reflects its heroes’ flaws is nothing short of a comic-book-superhero flourish, which is fitting, given how much Ryoo’s seedy vision of metropolitan South Korea this time around resembles the gaudy depths of Gotham City. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 Sep. 2024

Both Annette as a character and Curtis’ pantomime take on her jolt us out of a movie Coppola has clearly conceived as a soulful, sensitive alternative to gaudy screen depictions of similar milieus, like Showgirls and Burlesque. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2024

This hibiscus is not anywhere near as gaudy as the familiar Chinese hibiscus whose flowers appear in brilliant red, pink, orange, or yellow. —Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 10 Aug. 2024

Saturday’s showcase comes on the heels of another gaudy performance by Clark, who set a WNBA record with 19 assists in a game Wednesday against the Dallas Wings. —Glynn A. Hill, Washington Post, 20 July 2024

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

Kids Definition

gaudy

adjective

ˈgȯd-ē,

ˈgäd-

gaudier; gaudiest

: overly or tastelessly ornamented

gaudily

ˈgȯd-ᵊl-ē

ˈgäd-

adverb

gaudiness

-ēnəs

noun