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flashy

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective flashy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of flashy are garish, gaudy, meretricious, and tawdry. While all these words mean "vulgarly or cheaply showy," flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar.

a flashy nightclub act

When can garish be used instead of flashy?

Although the words garish and flashy have much in common, garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright.

garish neon signs

When is it sensible to use gaudy instead of flashy?

The meanings of gaudy and flashy largely overlap; however, gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation.

circus performers in gaudy costumes

When might meretricious be a better fit than flashy?

The synonyms meretricious and flashy are sometimes interchangeable, but meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise.

a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars

When would tawdry be a good substitute for flashy?

In some situations, the words tawdry and flashy are roughly equivalent. However, tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy.

tawdry saloons

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 flashiness
Adjective
His flashiest assists were offset by foolhardy turnovers. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 Neither gravitates toward the flashier aspects of the virtuoso life style. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025 Those chasing flashy marketing will be left behind. Lutz Finger, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025 Strategic workforce management isn’t about slashing headcount for the sake of flashy cost-cutting. Sherzod Odilov, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flashiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flashiness
Noun
  • Whatever the shape of your face or preference for colour or flamboyance level, the idea is the same: pack one pair that works with every outfit and be done with it.
    Nick Hendry, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Their flamboyance was a public assertion of freedom, particularly in the north of the United States, where many migrated to reinvent and present themselves following freedom.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In a community so focused on performance gear, there was a surprising lack of quality—and stylish—womenswear.
    Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • Designed to blend effortlessly with your favorite pieces, this stylish bag extension offers a fresh, customizable twist to elevate your everyday look.
    Essence, Essence, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • Ethical Efficiency insists that systems be designed to truly find and elevate the best solutions, not simply reward the loudest voices or most privileged perspectives.
    Karlo Tanjuakio, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Just after dawn on May 29, the swish of chains dragging on asphalt was loud enough to be heard over idling engines.
    Eric Cortellessa, Time, 10 June 2025
Noun
  • As high heels become less of a requisite in certain arenas, the Cannes red carpet — whose ostentation is rivaled only by the Met Gala or the Oscars — is something of a final frontier.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
  • The mansion, often considered a monument to Roaring ‘20s ostentation, stretches from the Intracoastal to the Atlantic Ocean.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Something delicate and silver, that goes almost anywhere for evening, or to almost any snazzy daytime event.
    Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 18 May 2025
  • The soundtrack is built from widely recognizable classic rock songs, and the opening title sequence (with a theme written by Abrams himself) is a snazzy tone-setter clearly inspired by Hot Wheels.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • The sheer volume of content created far outpaces what audiences can consume, leading to a noisy, crowded digital ecosystem.
    Luca Brinkhues, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • Its lineup interspersed noisy no wave groups like Pop Music Fever Dream and Pure Adult, upbeat pop-rock performances from bands like Um, Jennifer?
    Grace Robins-Somerville, Pitchfork, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • Taking place on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in easy view of the luxury yachts moored in the harbor, the Monaco Grand Prix has become synonymous with the glitz and glamor associated with F1 – Kylian Mbappé, Jeff Bezos and Naomi Campbell were among the celebrities in attendance on Sunday.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 25 May 2025
  • While buyers seeking glitz and glam may not apply—the FragBox does look old-school, and there's no tempered glass or fancy RGB lights here—those appreciating Falcon's immaculate engineering and dedication to producing the best-performing systems will love it.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Enjoy thrilling matches, strawberries and cream, Lanson fizz, fashionable outfits, celebrity spotting, and the all-round fun atmosphere that the tournament brings.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • The Flower girls, dressed in bright costumes of fashionable gardening gear and props, danced to popular music.
    Yvette Walker, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Flashiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flashiness. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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