as in showy
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Recent Examples of frilly
The analog girl in a digital world took the stage on Sunday evening to close out the festival wearing what looked like a mushroom cap on her head, accented by a frilly, droopy outfit that looked like it was designed by psilocybin.
—
Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 1 June 2026
Since news of the upcoming album first dropped, fans have been critical of Rodrigo's frilly new style moments and matching glam.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 22 May 2026
With delicate tie sleeves, a ruched top, and a frilly hem, there’s nothing not to like about this maxi dress.
—Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
My clothes, a mountain range of frilly skirts, dark jeans, and long-sleeve dresses on my bedroom floor.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Blooming over a long season, the fragrant, frilly blooms draw Gulf Fritillary and other butterfly species to the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
Apparently, this was all too much for users on X and Instagram, who have been losing it, claiming that the frilly silhouette both infantilizes and sexualizes the 23-year-old star.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2026
The frilly flower corresponds with Sagittarius's quest for curiosity and fun.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
There’s a vintage Palm Springs vibe at the 50th-floor Swim Club, a sunny happening spot with a 30-meter infinity pool lined with sun loungers, blue frilly parasols, and vertiginous views.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 1 June 2026
Since news of the upcoming album first dropped, fans have been critical of Rodrigo's frilly new style moments and matching glam.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 22 May 2026
With delicate tie sleeves, a ruched top, and a frilly hem, there’s nothing not to like about this maxi dress.
—Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
My clothes, a mountain range of frilly skirts, dark jeans, and long-sleeve dresses on my bedroom floor.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Blooming over a long season, the fragrant, frilly blooms draw Gulf Fritillary and other butterfly species to the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
Apparently, this was all too much for users on X and Instagram, who have been losing it, claiming that the frilly silhouette both infantilizes and sexualizes the 23-year-old star.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2026
The frilly flower corresponds with Sagittarius's quest for curiosity and fun.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
There’s a vintage Palm Springs vibe at the 50th-floor Swim Club, a sunny happening spot with a 30-meter infinity pool lined with sun loungers, blue frilly parasols, and vertiginous views.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frilly
Adjective
-
Each composition, cut, and camera move is expressive and carefully selected, and the lighting by cinematographer Ellen Kuras is beautiful without feeling self-conscious or showy.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
10 June 2026
-
But Raman — whose husband is veteran 30 Rock writer and producer Vali Chandrasekaran — has quietly subverted her showy target in a way befitting that series.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Catalonia’s Catholics are reserved in their practice, without flamboyant Easter Week processions like those in Seville and other Spanish cities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
-
Rather than seeking to modernize the text through flamboyant stylistic devices, director Gaël Morel offers a nuanced reinterpretation of its human relationships, focusing on how the characters interact, confront one another, and engage in dialogue.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
From courtside catchphrases to his podcast and decades on Bulls broadcasts, King became a unifying, exuberant voice for generations of Chicago basketball fans.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
Nearly 50 years after Elvis Presley 's death, a gaggle of exuberant young boys and teens shook up his hometown, intent on keeping the king's legacy alive for a new generation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Rather than trying to gulp the slimy thing down, Wilkinson went into the kitchen and prepared an extravagant breakfast for himself, complete with Dr Pepper to wash it down.—
Matthew Jackson,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
-
Often referred to as the Versailles Townhouse, the property is among the Upper East Side‘s most extravagant private residences.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Seattle has all of these in its bar scene—just don’t expect ostentatious VIP rooms, which never fit the vibe of this low-key city.—
Mark DeJoy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 June 2026
-
There were no ostentatious lobbies, no scene-y pool decks, and no pressure to perform wellness.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
For the 2026 edition, by far the biggest in the competition’s 96-year history, even that grandiose billing is nothing like bombastic enough.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
-
For all of Control Resonant's slick presentation, the boss fight, which was just a giant floating head, felt one-note, with simple attack patterns that didn't really seem as grandiose as the situation demanded.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
The leads can be overwrought, shouting lines across the stage while the Gothic-style doorways, sharp directional lighting and ooh-ahh practical effects do their complicated dance.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
-
On the other, there is the overwrought but far-fetched revenge for her death.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Attendees marked the historic occasion dressed in traditional barongs — formalwear finely woven from piña, or pineapple fibers — as well as elegant Filipiniana outfits and ternos, the traditional formal gowns instantly recognizable by their structured butterfly sleeves.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
-
Stay at Lucknam Park, an elegant country retreat near Bath.—
Lindsay Cohn,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frilly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frilly. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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