1
as in to horse around
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
the athletes warmed up, happily showing off for the crowd before the match officially started
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to display
to present so as to invite notice or attention
she just wants to show off her new jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hotshot
informal + disapproving
a person who tries to impress other people with his or her abilities or possessions
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of show off
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Taking place each year in February and September, New York Fashion Week is a collection of runway shows and fashion presentations where the world's biggest designers and brands show off their latest looks.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
This was my chance to not be an actor, not have that stink of being an actor, that egotistical, show-off, controlling, making choices, being clever part of being an actor.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for show off
Verb
In one, the shooter shows off an arsenal of weapons and ammunition laid out on a bed.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Taking place each year in February and September, New York Fashion Week is a collection of runway shows and fashion presentations where the world's biggest designers and brands show off their latest looks.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
Feast On Local Delights In Fort-de-France, welcoming local food shacks and easy-going eateries reign, offering simple but delicious and affordable eats that show-off the region’s best recipes.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
This was my chance to not be an actor, not have that stink of being an actor, that egotistical, show-off, controlling, making choices, being clever part of being an actor.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for show off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for show off
Verb
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Running or horsing around with sparklers can also cause injuries and burns when users trip and fall.—
Justin Laube,
EverydayHealth.com,
2 July 2025
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Heath Ryan, who represented Australia in dressage at the 2008 Olympics, can be seen in the video – which the rider said is about two years old – hitting a horse around 40 times.—
Matias Grez,
CNN Money,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Advertisement What weapons did China display at the parade?—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
3 Sep. 2025
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The parade displayed large numbers of Chinese troops and military equipment, ranging from tanks and drones to long-range and nuclear ballistic missiles.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Not only is the work physically and mentally grueling, hotshots must dedicate at least six months of their life to their crew, sacrificing time with family and friends, along with individual autonomy.—
River Selby
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
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In July, ProPublica reported that, according to agency data, its fire and aviation management program contained more than 4,500 active vacancies, including for such crucial primary firefighting positions as hotshots, dispatchers and engine captains.—
Abe Streep,
ProPublica,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Born Drew Desbordes, Druski, 30, is a long way from the kid who spent his time at the dinner table cutting up.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
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Nobody wants to get their hands cut up by a downward moving blade.—
Vilius Kavaliauskas,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For Tyler, the performance marked his return to the awards show stage after retiring from touring due to vocal injury.—
Stacy Lambe,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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The season-starting installment showed the duo arriving in London only to find a single living person remaining in the form of Stephen Merchant’s Julian.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Gisin hopes that by fooling around with measurements of these more exotic states, physicists will come to better understand the role of measurement in general.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Aug. 2025
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Those have come from two players: Adrian Morejon of the San Diego Padres, who throws an odd knuckleball-changeup hybrid about 1 percent of the time, and Jonah Bride of the Minnesota Twins, an infielder fooling around with the knuckler in blowouts.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Verb
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What symptoms do infected people exhibit, and who should be most concerned about the disease?—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
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A number of the Smithsonian items and exhibits the White House objected to are no longer or never were put on display or were only posted online, USA TODAY found.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Celebrity deaths 2025: Remembering the stars who've died this year Chris Robinson, 'General Hospital' and 'Bold and the Beautiful' star, dies at 86 His appearance in a single episode of Frasier, as wise guy Jerome Balasco, earned Yulin an Emmy nomination.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
11 June 2025
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And for the most part, the wise guys weren't overly impressed with the Green Bay Packers’ offseason.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Show off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/show%20off. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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