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show

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noun

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as in display
an outward and often exaggerated indication of something abstract (as a feeling) for effect the children made a show of disgust when confronted with asparagus

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word show different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of show are display, exhibit, expose, flaunt, and parade. While all these words mean "to present so as to invite notice or attention," show implies no more than enabling another to see or examine.

showed her snapshots to the whole group

When is it sensible to use display instead of show?

The synonyms display and show are sometimes interchangeable, but display emphasizes putting in a position where others may see to advantage.

display sale items

When would exhibit be a good substitute for show?

The meanings of exhibit and show largely overlap; however, exhibit stresses putting forward prominently or openly.

exhibit paintings at a gallery

When might expose be a better fit than show?

The words expose and show can be used in similar contexts, but expose suggests bringing forth from concealment and displaying.

sought to expose the hypocrisy of the town fathers

When can flaunt be used instead of show?

While the synonyms flaunt and show are close in meaning, flaunt suggests a shameless, boastful, often offensive parading.

nouveaux riches flaunting their wealth

Where would parade be a reasonable alternative to show?

Although the words parade and show have much in common, parade implies an ostentatious or arrogant displaying.

parading their piety for all to see

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 show
Verb
Another video shows two fans fell over a wall and landed on concrete at the pit entrance. Mark Price updated July 7, Miami Herald, 7 July 2025 Sean is going to show you one of the biggest companies in the space. Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 7 July 2025
Noun
In my first year auditioning, I was featured on Making the Team, the DCC reality show before the one on Netflix. Glamour, 8 July 2025 That’s certainly rare — especially when the show has been this successful. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for show
Recent Examples of Synonyms for show
Verb
  • Sell By: This date, used for inventory management purposes, indicates how long the retailer should display the product for sale.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 July 2025
  • Oh well, that’s OK then, and doesn’t display any lack of proper validation of update integrity before release at all.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • If someone deliberately feeds misleading or malicious information to the AI or manipulates the backend knowledge-base articles and context sources, the system could learn something harmful, behave incorrectly or even reveal fragments of private data later on.
    Khash Kiani, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • The fourth and final season of Amazon's quirky-yet-depressing sci-fi comedy will premiere in full on August 25 on Amazon Prime Video, USA TODAY can exclusively reveal.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • The discovery of the oldest flying vertebrate in North America by a group of researchers fills a gap in the fossil record proving that pterosaurs coexisted with frogs, turtles and older groups of animals like giant amphibians.
    Sara Chernikoff, USA Today, 10 July 2025
  • In the post, Witherspoon sported a striped shirtdress paired with a lightweight baby blue cardigan, proving once again that functional fashion doesn’t have to sacrifice style.
    Averi Baudler, People.com, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • His legacy was the tradition of limited government and individual responsibility that guides us back to our true north when America gets off track.
    Linda McMahon, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 July 2025
  • And last month, Kennedy dismissed an expert panel of vaccine advisers that has historically guided the federal government’s vaccine recommendations, a move that concerned public health officials across the country.
    Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • This level of confidence from Oakley is helping steer their vision of the future with the help of innovators like Meta AI, Axiom Space, and Travis Scott.
    Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • There is also a neutral setting between forward and reverse that lets the watercraft drift, a nice change from the old days of not being able to steer at all if there was no thrust.
    Jeremy Korzeniewski, Robb Report, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • Advertisement Musk became a close ally of Trump’s and appeared at major campaign rallies with him, addressing large crowds and urging them to vote for Trump.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 6 July 2025
  • However, this new technology is minimally invasive, appears to support recovery of both movement and sensation, and does not cause damage to the spinal cord.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • The July 11 anti-government demonstrations were met with a crackdown ordered by Díaz-Canel on state television that day.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2025
  • The classic demonstration of LFP battery safety involves driving a nail through a pack, which can cause immediate conflagration with NMC batteries, but this is less likely with LFP.
    James Morris, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • Forty-two years after that, Titus captured and destroyed the city of Jerusalem; that act avenged the murder of Christ.
    Mary Jo Bang July 9, Literary Hub, 9 July 2025
  • The once-famous case of Ebenezer Smith Platt reminds us that widespread attention to acts of tyranny that violate foundational rights is critical to maintaining those rights.
    Time, Time, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Show.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/show. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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