Definition of SHOWINESS

Choose the Right Synonym for showy

showy, pretentious, ostentatious mean given to excessive outward display. showy implies an imposing or striking appearance but usually suggests cheapness or poor taste. the performers' showy costumes pretentious implies an appearance of importance not justified by the thing's value or the person's standing. a pretentious parade of hard words ostentatious stresses vainglorious display or parade. the ostentatious summer homes of the rich

Examples of showy in a Sentence

Perhaps you should wear something a little less showy. orchid plants are known for their huge showy flowers

Recent Examples on the Web

Was this building to be a showy piece of architectural ambition, a gorgeous sculpture wrapped around a very big box? — Julie Lasky, ELLE Decor, "ED First Look: The National Museum of Qatar," 26 Mar. 2019 Interviews with more than a dozen people who knew him in college and Yale Law School draw a portrait of a serious, but not showy student and sports lover whose drive and competitiveness helped him both on the court and in the classroom. — Alanna Durkin Richer, The Seattle Times, "At Yale, Kavanaugh stayed out of debates at a time of many," 28 Aug. 2018 The engagement cookie that is designed to match your new bling is the newest craze for (showy) brides and brides-to-be. — Caroline Judelson, Fox News, "Engagement cookies are the new bridal trend," 9 Aug. 2018 Not over-complicated or showy, most are made with four ingredients or less, by bar staff that epitomize southern hospitality. — Condé Nast Traveler, "15 Best Things To Do in Austin," 4 Mar. 2018 The owners wanted a striking facade that was expressive but not showy, so the architects came up with the idea of a gradient paint job meant to evoke a house in the misty countryside. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Modern home stands out with gradient facade," 5 Nov. 2018 In short, an animal prone to making showy displays of his power, beauty or wealth to win mates, gain allies and intimidate competitors. — Melissa Healy, latimes.com, "An extra dose of testosterone increases men's preference for high-status luxury goods, study says," 4 July 2018 Modern capitalism, the authors suggest, selects for assertiveness, for a lack of sentimentality in business and comfort in sacking underlings, and for showy displays of economic strength. — The Economist, "Does inequality cause suicide, drug abuse and mental illness?," 14 June 2018 Both arrive on carts wheeled tableside, where a server or bartender than launches into an improvisational dialog and showy display of culinary finesse resulting in one of the city’s more entertaining appetizer courses. — San Antonio Express-News, "Range," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'showy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.