Synonyms of gaudy

gaudy

adjective

ˈgȯ-dē 

as in loud

excessively showy

gaudy decorations on all the doors and windows at festival time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• loud
• noisy
• garish
• flashy
• extravagant
• ornate
• ostentatious
• flamboyant
• glitzy
• excessive
• flaring
• swanky
• fancy
• splashy
• swank
• razzle-dazzle
• over-the-top
• bright
• overwrought
• baroque
• pretentious
• spectacular
• glaring
• fulsome
• snazzy
• hammy
• tawdry
• tacky
• overdone
• florid
• glittery
• lurid
• vulgar
• blaring
• bedizened
• inelegant
• tasteless
• overbright
• tinselly
• graceless
• zooty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appropriate
• conservative
• understated
• quiet
• proper
• fitting
• inconspicuous
• subdued
• unflashy
• elegant
• unobtrusive
• muted
• restrained
• unflamboyant
• tasteful
• graceful
• plain
• toned (down)
• modest
• simple
• unpretentious

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gaudy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gaudy are flashy, garish, meretricious, and tawdry. While all these words mean "vulgarly or cheaply showy," gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation.

circus performers in gaudy costumes

When could flashy be used to replace gaudy?

The words flashy and gaudy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar.

a flashy nightclub act

When is garish a more appropriate choice than gaudy?

While in some cases nearly identical to gaudy, garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright.

garish neon signs

Where would meretricious be a reasonable alternative to gaudy?

The synonyms meretricious and gaudy 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 is it sensible to use tawdry instead of gaudy?

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

tawdry saloons

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gaudy

At every step, he's been able to invest some money into other people's good ideas and then cash out—literally and figuratively—with more money and a gaudier reputation, despite contributing very little. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025

What was outside of David after that challenge was a big, gaudy immunity necklace, something Cedrek certainly could have used considering his fate later that night. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Bridges is in a steady rhythm, putting up gaudy offensive numbers despite being one of the main focal points in the opposing team’s scouting report, given the Hornets’ sheer number of injuries. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Mar. 2025

While wearing gaudy lime green T-shirts, neon ties sprouting shamrocks with Gaelic sayings, or singing catchy, sentimental tunes, many people also enjoy an Americanized version of the Celtic culture for a day, whether Irish or not. —Maureen Murphy, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2025