Synonyms of ostentatious

ostentatious

adjective

ˌä-stən-ˈtā-shəs 

1

as in loud

excessively showy

wears an ostentatious diamond ring on his little finger

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in arrogant

self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance

an ostentatious man who desperately wants to impress people with his newly acquired wealth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arrogant
• grandiose
• pretentious
• pompous
• proud
• high-minded
• highfalutin
• smug
• affected
• snippy
• la-di-da
• vainglorious
• grandiloquent
• high-sounding
• aggressive
• cavalier
• vain
• conceited
• bumptious
• rude
• sententious
• high-and-mighty
• showy
• egotistic
• snobbish
• supercilious
• uppity
• gaudy
• presumptuous
• high-toned
• high-handed
• haughty
• egoistic
• important
• complacent
• prideful
• snobby
• imperious
• boastful
• confident
• garish
• self-important
• high-hat
• flashy
• flamboyant
• disdainful
• glitzy
• hoity-toity
• high-flown
• insolent
• impudent
• overweening
• self-aggrandizing
• self-complacent
• assertive
• self-centered
• self-satisfied
• self-glorifying
• superior
• self-conceited
• airy
• self-promoting
• cocky
• brassy
• self-obsessed
• cheeky
• self-assertive
• audacious
• lordly
• sure
• self-dramatizing
• flaunting
• self-asserting
• stuck-up
• splashy
• self-confident
• self-pleased
• self-assured
• bold
• bragging
• braggart
• forward

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• modest
• unpretentious
• humble
• unassuming
• homely
• meek
• lowly
• passive
• down-to-earth
• retiring
• timid
• quiet
• bashful
• shy
• demure
• unassertive
• reserved
• mousy
• diffident
• overmodest

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

Recent Examples of ostentatious

Even in a nation known for ostentatious displays of baseball obsession, the ensuing theatrics went viral. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

The structures, made of raw concrete, exuded an ostentatious form of modesty, emblematic of the town’s character. — Afra Wang, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2026

None of this is that serious, but the truth is, Rams haters existed even before this ostentatious offseason. — Michael Silver, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Every material has been selected to age gracefully, while subtle craftsmanship and tactile finishes ensure that interiors are refined without ever feeling ostentatious. — Nick Scott, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!