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Synonym Chooser

How is the word ostentatious different from other adjectives like it?

The words pretentious and showy are common synonyms of ostentatious. While all three words mean "given to excessive outward display," ostentatious stresses vainglorious display or parade.

the ostentatious summer homes of the rich

When is it sensible to use pretentious instead of ostentatious?

The synonyms pretentious and ostentatious are sometimes interchangeable, but pretentious implies an appearance of importance not justified by the thing's value or the person's standing.

a pretentious parade of hard words

When could showy be used to replace ostentatious?

The words showy and ostentatious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, showy implies an imposing or striking appearance but usually suggests cheapness or poor taste.

the performers' showy costumes

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 ostentatious Sure, its plumage may not be as big or ostentatious as the peacock’s – though, to be fair, ostentatiousness is an important quality as these feathers have evolved to capture the attention of potential mates. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025 In short, an ostentatious action game with a fascinating setting and stunning visuals. Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025 And for Trump’s onetime pirate ship of a political movement, Butterworth’s represents an ostentatious new evolutionary phase: the deplorable as arriviste. Robert Draper, New York Times, 2 June 2025 Paytas is known for giving her children ostentatious names, and the friends speculated on names for Paytas’ upcoming son: Atlantis or Twilight. Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ostentatious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostentatious
Adjective
  • Ocean City officials have confirmed that fireworks — not gunfire — were the source of loud noises that caused panic and sent crowds scrambling on the boardwalk Friday night.
    Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2025
  • Room for improvement The cabin is so loud even with the top up that conversation with a partner was difficult at speed.
    Josh Max, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • Her larger-than-life ego and past as a shaman make Player 044 come off as arrogant and selfish, getting under just about everyone's skin.
    EW.com, EW.com, 4 July 2025
  • In 2022, Ackles joined the cast of Prime Video's The Boys as arrogant superhero Soldier Boy.
    Brianne Tracy, People.com, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • If co-workers are noisy, ask for sound-cancelling headphones or a seating change.
    Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 28 June 2025
  • In a lively first-half played in front of a noisy crowd of 54,619, Chelsea were denied a penalty when Enzo Fernandez went down in the box after turning past Gerson, while at the other end Levi Colwill headed the ball off the line from a free kick.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Since then, grandiose rivers of tulle have streamed through celebrity ceremonies like fast-rushing water: from Sophia Richie to Paris Hilton, Naomi Biden, Nicola Peltz Beckham and Millie Bobby Brown.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 June 2025
  • Seon-nyeo and Jeong-dae have successfully arrived at an exit, but her grandiose personality gives Jeong-dae the window to push her aside and slam the door shut behind him.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Rosie O'Donnell is using her gift of gab to share her thoughts on billionaire Jeff Bezos' extravagant wedding to Lauren Sánchez over the weekend.
    Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 30 June 2025
  • The Amazon founder, 61, and the Emmy-winning journalist, 55, recently concluded an extravagant celebration of their love, surrounded by entertainment's biggest stars, including the Kardashian-Jenner family, Oprah Winfrey and Leonardo DiCaprio.
    Kayla Grant, People.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • And a slightly surreal, fantastical closing scene is puzzling and pretentious rather than provocative.
    Stephen Farber, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
  • Folks in foodie online circles can be pretentious about American-Chinese food.
    Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • But Oklahoma City engulfs basketball’s gaudiest attacks not in spite of its hacking but because of it.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 June 2025
  • On Saturday, on the streets of Washington, Donald Trump will throw himself a costly and ostentatious military parade, a gaudy display of waste and vainglory staged solely to inflate the president’s dirigible-sized ego.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Adjective
  • And more than any other animal, cats represented to her its moral antithesis: lazy, pompous, interested only in themselves.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
  • At 11:30, as the simultaneously pompous and obsequious gate agent announces the passengers above gold status, the bit, already tilting toward insanity, leaves any attempt to portray a real airport behind and dives fully into Alice in Wonderland–level surrealism.
    John Roy, Vulture, 8 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ostentatious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostentatious. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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