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showy

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word showy different from other adjectives like it?

The words ostentatious and pretentious are common synonyms of showy. While all three words mean "given to excessive outward display," showy implies an imposing or striking appearance but usually suggests cheapness or poor taste.

the performers' showy costumes

When might ostentatious be a better fit than showy?

In some situations, the words ostentatious and showy are roughly equivalent. However, ostentatious stresses vainglorious display or parade.

the ostentatious summer homes of the rich

When can pretentious be used instead of showy?

The synonyms pretentious and showy 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

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 showiness
Adjective
The conversation around the festival and industry’s response to the crisis in Gaza shows little signs of stopping, even as showy world premieres attempt to grab attention. Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025 Those who can’t stand Lee’s showy indulgences should note that Passing Strange, one of his best films of the new century, is among his least intrusive. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025 Having hosted many tournaments, becoming a hub for Associate cricket in South-East Asia, neighboring Malaysia are keen to get in on any possible BBL expansion although the country does not boast the type of showy stadium for cricket like in Kallang. Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025 Zinnias also attract butterflies with its showy flowers. Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for showiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showiness
Noun
  • Formula 1 has Monaco, with its ostentation and air of exclusivity.
    Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Never through excess or ostentation, but through quiet discipline — a meditative expression of grace.
    Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Why Local Marketing Is Gaining Ground Again In recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift in how small and midsized businesses (SMBs) approach marketing.
    Ashot Barseghyan, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Particularly noticeable is Cavagnari’s eye for mixing midcentury modern furnishings, vintage lighting from Morocco, and older pieces that carry a story with them, such as a portable writing desk and a chair that folds into its own leather steamer trunk.
    Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • One of the things that make Jude Law such an interesting actor, especially in his middle age, has been his ability to direct his flamboyance and his physicality towards unlikely ends.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Jones says Lee’s versatility – ranging from her quietly powerful performance in Past Lives to more comedic roles in Russian Doll more recently The Studio – shines through in her performance as Gloria, whose outward flamboyance hides a darker reality.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Kirk, a prominent voice in culture wars on college campuses, hosts a daily radio show and podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show, which ranks among the top 10 on Apple News’ list of top podcasts and has a strong Gen Z fan base.
    Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • On Tuesday night, the Nepali army deployed troops to restore order after prominent government buildings were set on fire, politicians were attacked and violent clashes erupted between protesters and government forces.
    Juliana Kim, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Studs, leopard print, and DIY ornamentation sit alongside soft pastels, swirling graphic patterns, and a Nouveau color palette inspired by the Parisian Metropolitain signs.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Born into postwar optimism in the mid-20th century, the movement favored steel, concrete, and insulated glass in defiance of ornamentation.
    Will Speros, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Her efforts saved the animal’s life and landed her in her hometown newspaper, The Mountain Eagle, which was the first to write about the dramatic rescue and resuscitation.
    Michael Collins, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The increase widens a stark property tax gap between Idaho’s two largest school districts — Boise and West Ada — and illustrates dramatic policy differences between the adjoining Treasure Valley districts.
    Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Expect spectacle, but also a story about claiming identity and embracing power.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Topline After a quiet 2025 for comets, skywatchers may soon get a very special naked-eye spectacle in the shape of Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6).
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For cruising around town while keeping tabs on the surrounding potholes, traffic and pedestrians, however, many cyclists prefer the more commanding, upright, back-friendly stance offered by a flat handlebar.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2025
  • As one of the world’s largest tech giants, Google’s position in the space is a commanding one, though competition from the likes of Meta, OpenAI and others is fierce.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Showiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showiness. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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