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 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 Unlike conspicuous consumption, quiet luxury whispers rather than shouts, favoring rarity, meaning, and intentionality. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Nov. 2025 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
  • This nearly 50-percent-off Kate Spade bag looks like a splurge without actually being one, courtesy of Amazon’s early Labor Day sale.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Separating the must-haves from the nice-to-haves can help parents decide where to hold firm and where a splurge might fit within the family budget.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of splurge
Noun
  • 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
  • For all his wastefulness, those games have still brought 54 goals, a one-in-three ratio.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 July 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
  • But through quick thinking, organizing and the generosity of thousands New Yorkers, Pintabona and the other restaurant members put together a massive operation that fed Ground Zero workers around the clock for two months after the attacks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But behind the glitz was profound talent, as well as a grit and generosity that made her one of country music’s biggest stars and a beloved international icon.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of generosity
Noun
  • With fewer domestic discoveries, high import tariffs and fragmented markets that curtailed economies of scale in production, such extravagances were unavailable to Europeans, who became accustomed to smaller, more efficient cars.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Over the years, Marco Polo has adapted to the neighborhood’s changing demographics by downplaying its old-world Italian extravagance.
    — Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of extravagance
Noun
  • After all, the university’s magnetic pull depends on its being embedded in a global metropolis with its profusion of experts, employers, and opportunities.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In this deep perennial border, Jordin layered tough perennials that deliver a profusion of color in the height of summer, including catmint, ‘Millenium’ allium, ‘Cinderella’ milkweed, and clary sage.
    — Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2026
Definition of profusion

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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 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conspicuous consumption

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conspicuous consumption

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