as in ostentation
excessive or unnecessary display
we were somewhat put off by the saber-rattling showiness of the military parade
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of showiness
Rose is another extraordinary showcase for her gifts and a master class in the art of acting with rigor, honesty, physicality and zero showiness.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
Garcia’s finest new dishes underscore his talent for complexity that bypasses showiness.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Still, that showiness in dialogue is latched to a shallowness of characterization.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
There’s also a kind of garish showiness that the Academy isn’t immune to.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
These choices reflect a desire for comfort and authenticity rather than showiness.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
Garcia’s finest new dishes underscore his talent for complexity that bypasses showiness.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Still, that showiness in dialogue is latched to a shallowness of characterization.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
There’s also a kind of garish showiness that the Academy isn’t immune to.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
These choices reflect a desire for comfort and authenticity rather than showiness.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showiness
Noun
-
The characteristics of this aesthetic begin with simple colors that evoke understated elegance—not ostentation.—
Kristine Gill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Feb. 2026
-
This gesture contrasts in the central avenue of Vassilissis Sofia, with the ostentation of the immediate official buildings, where the flags are flying full.—
Diego Parrado,
Vanity Fair,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Drinking, flamboyance, and film- and music-making bloomed.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
-
His newfound prominence and flamboyance — the eyeliner, the frequent shirtlessness, the leather pants — attract some vocal haters, but he’s gotten used to it.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His photographs vibrate with the excess of their ornamentation, with an audacity of presence that exceeds the realm of the emblematic.—
Zoë Hopkins,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Its tapered legs and subtle ornamentation give it an old world quality that still looks right at home in a contemporary designscape.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Here, the brand positioned itself not as a narrator but as a host — facilitating collective experience rather than staging spectacle.—
Yiling Pan,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The spectacle surrounding the case has only been exacerbated by a flurry of anonymous notes to media organizations, variously claiming to know Guthrie’s location, demanding payment for her safe return, or even alleging to be the kidnappers themselves.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His backing musicians kick up dust, eschewing the post-rock pomp favored by his contemporary Chuck Johnson in favor of riverine structures that reflect the geologic time scale Walker wanted to capture here.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Crisman used to spend a week in the host city, soaking in the pomp and pageantry.—
Patrick Whittle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The white-tablecloth service transforms the casual diner into a romantic destination featuring festive decorations and a specialty menu.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Not far from the festival, many families visited the Grand Century Mall in San Jose's Little Saigon neighborhood, shopping for groceries and decorations ahead of the holiday.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Beneath the glamour and glitz is a heartwarming story that continues to dazzle and amaze every year.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
In the 1990s and 2000s, Sundance was an offbeat destination for Hollywood’s creative talent, rejecting the glitz of European festivals and the solemnity of awards season in favor of strong movies that garnered word-of-mouth interest.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The entertainment rooms can serve as places to enjoy cocktails and billiards (both villas feature Steinway & Sons grand pianos), the dining rooms feel cinematic without being too formal, and the bedroom suites favor comfort rather than flashiness.—
David Morris,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Leopard, cheetah, and even zebra recall an era shaped by the flashiness of Christina Aguilera and Paris Hilton.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
20 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Showiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showiness. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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