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
-
While Vico has been careful to avoid any kind of ostentation, Argentaia offers a spa, a tennis court, a stunning 100-foot saltwater infinity pool overlooking the valley, and a movie theater.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
-
The atmosphere aligns with the philosophy: no ostentation, no grand production.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nobody wants to hear this — not Eisenhower, not Krick and definitely not Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery (Damian Lewis, leaning into the flamboyance).—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
-
His flamboyance never tips into caricature, and along with wit and warmth there is real pain.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
From there, the ornamentation strips back, room by room, evolving with the narrative of the album.—
Angela Tafoya,
Architectural Digest,
29 May 2026
-
It is surrounded by appliqué ornamentation reflecting the decorative arts of each culture and an ornate frieze around the periphery.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lord ends his piece with shots of cars passing by, their drivers momentarily registering the spectacle.—
Jonathan Odden,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Few, if any, other artists at the Roots Picnic had as many dancers on stage as Brandy, who lived up to the task and then some to deliver a wowing spectacle.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
There aren’t crowds of excited supporters or the pomp of champagne glasses and white tablecloths.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
-
But the Dodgers scored a run off Mason Miller (introduced with pomp and video flames on the scoreboard as ‘The Reaper’) in the ninth inning and beat him and the San Diego Padres, 5-4, on Tuesday night.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Florists used more than 30,000 flowers, most the yellow and white colors of the Holy See flag, for the carpets that feature decorations such as the Holy See keys.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
-
Exterior decorations at the Sagrada Família.—
Seth Doane,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Naomi Osaka brings glitz and glamour to the French Open on May 28 in Paris.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
-
Beneath all its glitz, the one-off EV has plenty of eye-catching tech, too.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Originally opened in 1979 and rebranded as the Cromwell in 2014, this hot spot provided the privacy and space needed to isolate cast and crew from the public while still delivering all the flashiness and drama expected from the show.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
-
Like many early 2000s trends now making a comeback (think wedge sandals and low-rise pants), the halter top has shed much of the overt flashiness that once defined it.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Showiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showiness. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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