as in ornamental
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest
some tacky little gaud that they had picked up at a souvenir stand at an amusement park
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gaud
At the other end is the caricature, butt of flabby jokes, trussed in Las Vegas gaud, voice prostituted to a huge orchestra.
—
San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2019
Even its colors, silver and space gray, seem to have been chosen for their lack of gaud—no blingy gold model here.
—David Pierce, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2017
In their novels, the disorienting clash between Soviet gloom and American gaud is the source of dramatic tension, exploited for tragedy and, more often, comedy.
—Nathaniel Rich, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2017
San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2019
Even its colors, silver and space gray, seem to have been chosen for their lack of gaud—no blingy gold model here.
—David Pierce, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2017
In their novels, the disorienting clash between Soviet gloom and American gaud is the source of dramatic tension, exploited for tragedy and, more often, comedy.
—Nathaniel Rich, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaud
Noun
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Mealybugs can affect all types of crops, ornamentals, and houseplants, including succulents and cacti.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
31 July 2025
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Powdery mildew is a common plant disease that affects ornamentals and edible crops, causing powdery splotches on plant leaves and stems.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 July 2025
Noun
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There is also spectacular ornament and pageantry, alongside a tumultuous sense of rowdiness about to erupt—fisticuffs, slapstick chases, and daring combinations of hapless antics and true danger.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 July 2025
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Apparently, there are numerous ways to do a mid-year replication of the winter Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays by playing seasonal music, decorating the office with trees and ornaments festooned with summery things and creating playlists of holiday songs.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gaud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaud. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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