conspicuous consumption

noun

Definition of conspicuous consumptionnext
as in splurge

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of conspicuous consumption As a means of conspicuous consumption the canon is poorly served, but as a destination to explore, as a complicated, contradictory, sometimes boring and often beautiful place, there can be much to be gained through a meander, a perusal, a stroll. — Literary Hub, 21 May 2026 People in normal circumstances buy with discernment that penalizes conspicuous consumption. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 5 May 2026 An online amalgam of conspicuous consumption, natural wonders, and manmade spectacles — like the world’s tallest tower, Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque, and even, yes, the vivid green of Dubai Chocolate — has propelled the emirates to superlative measures of tourism and consumer behavior. — Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026 This was not cultural architecture as economic engine, but architectural complexity as conspicuous consumption—a questionable evolution, if also an appropriate one for the most valuable luxury conglomerate in the world. — Julian Rose, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conspicuous consumption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conspicuous consumption
  1. splurge
  2. wastefulness
  3. lavishness
  4. generosity
  5. extravagance
  6. profusion
Noun
  • Orlando Bloom’s first big automotive splurge was a classic Porsche—a black 911S from 1973.
    — Brett Berk, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The splurge in venture capital spending has been driven by the artificial intelligence boom, highlighted by OpenAI closing a record-breaking $122-billion funding round on March 31 at an $852-billion valuation.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of splurge
Noun
  • Such wastefulness in the first half prevented Louisiana from dragging USC into a dogfight.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Your hard truth is less likely to change her mind than to start an argument about the wastefulness of taking two cars.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of wastefulness
Noun
  • Bezos and Sánchez Bezos received backlash for the event’s lavishness during global hardships.
    — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Vanity Fair of today embodies a certain sort of lavishness—an often unironic appreciation of and yearning for rich people things.
    — Naomi Skwarna, hazlitt.net, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of lavishness
Noun
  • Jewel-bright macarons and sweets set a tone of abundant generosity at check-in.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The Sun in your 8th House opposes Saturn in your 2nd, highlighting the difference between generosity and taking on more than feels sustainable.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of generosity
Noun
  • When Vreeland’s extravagance proved too much for Condé Nast, she was let go, in 1971.
    — Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The beachside Kayuputi restaurant is easily one of the island’s best, offering extravagances like wagyu beef carpaccio and Sturia caviar.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of extravagance
Noun
  • Making pilgrims safe and comfortable But pilgrimages did not go away, nor did the profusion of information surrounding them.
    — Shay Rabineau, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Here, those extra voices vastly outnumber the two main characters, leading to a profusion of confusing subplots that stray away from the main themes.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of profusion

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conspicuous consumption
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Cite this Entry

“Conspicuous consumption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conspicuous%20consumption. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conspicuous consumption

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conspicuous consumption

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