as in pomp
excessive or unnecessary display
the sheer ostentation of the rock star's mansion was overwhelming
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Recent Examples of ostentation
Small in scale, devoid of ostentation, and otherwise deferential to Carmel’s forest character—Dyar Architecture’s Carmelo connects the dots between Carmel-by-the-Sea’s architectural past and present.
—
Richard Olsen, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
What existed in the White House was a relative lack of ostentation — formal, but showing occasional signs of wear and tear, proof that this was a People’s House, not a palace.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Formula 1 has Monaco, with its ostentation and air of exclusivity.
—Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Never through excess or ostentation, but through quiet discipline — a meditative expression of grace.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostentation
Richard Olsen, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
What existed in the White House was a relative lack of ostentation — formal, but showing occasional signs of wear and tear, proof that this was a People’s House, not a palace.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Formula 1 has Monaco, with its ostentation and air of exclusivity.
—Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Never through excess or ostentation, but through quiet discipline — a meditative expression of grace.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostentation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostentation
Noun
-
Trump likes Charles and royal pomp, but there are potential flashpoints, not least the administration’s recent comments about UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There had been one ceremony after another for the Kings’ all-time leading scorer, but Anže Kopitar’s farewell game was largely bereft of pomp, circumstance and, for his squad, offense.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Yet its sleek, monochromatic design serves as a quiet counterpoint to the temple’s rich ornamentation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Pale, dusty hues enhance natural light, offering a subtle counterpoint to the rich ornamentation, while ceiling paintings by Vicke Andrén, celebrated for his work at the Royal Swedish Opera, underscore the apartment’s artistic importance.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Sam instead proposes that the performer dance to it without music, a prompt that is followed by Anne Hathaway flinging herself across the room, dragging her body across the floor in a hypnotic spectacle that seems to convey struggle, possession, and loss of control.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
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And why has the trial between Musk and Altman, which is ramping up to be a true spectacle, captivated Silicon Valley?—
Tom Dotan,
Vanity Fair,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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His flamboyance never tips into caricature, and along with wit and warmth there is real pain.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
16 Apr. 2026
-
For attorneys in an overcrowded marketplace, in a city with casual ethics and a weakness for flamboyance, an outlandish sales pitch can be the best way to break through.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Featuring distinct forms and notable decorations, these pieces express identity, aesthetics, and wealth during a crucial period of change.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Each object features decoration – in bread of course – depicting wheat ears and sheafs, as well as hearts and olive branches.—
Francesca Perry,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There was no glitz to his profile then, though, entering a rebuilding program with exactly one total win in its last two seasons.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The tightknit and family-friendly city of Lake Elsinore in Riverside County is about 70 miles southeast and a world apart from the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood Hills.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But then, what is art if not an attempt to tidy up the real world’s teeming luxuriance?—
Sebastian Smee,
Washington Post,
5 Dec. 2023
-
The comic luxuriance of Roman references should not blind us to the significance of these constant appeals to the Roman Republic and to classical virtue.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
24 Oct. 2022
Noun
-
The Dominick is all floor-to-ceiling windows, soaking tubs, rooftop pools, and moody light fixtures — in other words, its 46 stories are peppered with elements that exude upscale, sophisticated energy while avoiding all signs of gaudiness.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
2 Mar. 2026
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So that drove a kind of character choice as well about the gaudiness of the society.—
Kelsie Gibson,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostentation. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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