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
as in noticeable
likely to attract attention
orchid plants are known for their huge showy flowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of showiness
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
The outer ring of the flower is composed of showy, sterile florets, while the center contains the smaller, fertile florets.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Come summer, when other flowering flora are busy competing for pollinators’ attention, skunk cabbage has already parted with its pollen and replaced its early blooming flowers with a bouquet of showy leaves.
—Skylar Knight, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
This earth sign doesn't care for showy appearances but still wants to revel in their successes, which is why quiet luxury fits best.
—Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for showiness
Adjective
Flowering non-stop summer-through fall in showy combinations of yellow, orange, and red, blanket flower provides a good source of nectar to native bees and butterflies, while the small seeds are eaten by finches.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
The outer ring of the flower is composed of showy, sterile florets, while the center contains the smaller, fertile florets.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Come summer, when other flowering flora are busy competing for pollinators’ attention, skunk cabbage has already parted with its pollen and replaced its early blooming flowers with a bouquet of showy leaves.
—Skylar Knight, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
This earth sign doesn't care for showy appearances but still wants to revel in their successes, which is why quiet luxury fits best.
—Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for showiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showiness
Noun
-
Their minimalist bottles and containers photograph beautifully, their price points signal exclusivity without screaming ostentation, and their international origins provide cultural cache.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
24 June 2025
-
As high heels become less of a requisite in certain arenas, the Cannes red carpet — whose ostentation is rivaled only by the Met Gala or the Oscars — is something of a final frontier.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
Since the pandemic, there’s been a noticeable drop in vaccination rates among kids.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
8 Aug. 2025
-
However, many fear this will eventually result in noticeable price hikes for consumers.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
These artists know that flamboyance needn’t preclude subtlety, and that stardom neither guarantees nor bars revelation.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
But what really makes A View to a Kill sing are the baddies, starting at the top with the Nazi-bred, ex-KGB, genetically altered microchip tycoon, horse breeder, and airship enthusiast Max Zorin, played with characteristic flamboyance by Walken.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
So far, the World Games 2025 is the most prominent global appearance for this hip hop dance form since the Paris Olympics in August 2024, at least in a sporting context.—
Jason Pu,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Sawfish look prehistoric and are named for their most prominent feature: their long, flat rostrum, with spiky scales that look like teeth.—
Jack Prator,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Told by one of the firm’s senior partners to add ornamentation to the design for a pyramid atop an office building, Wells flatly refused.—
Henry Wiencek
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
-
That is, minimal ornamentation with an emphasis on modern materials which made construction less expensive.—
Randy Mason,
Kansas City Star,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
Its comp sales were bolstered by 4.7% increase in online sales against a dramatic 5.7% decline in store sales.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Soon, attention will turn back to the pitch for what will probably be another dramatic campaign.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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These weren’t done purely for spectacle; they were structured as experiments in how the body and mind adapt under sustained pressure.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
The actual rich keep finding new places to stash themselves away—on superyachts, in underground bunkers, off the planet altogether—and yet spectacles of wealth are now accessible 24/7 through our devices.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Trent Grisham also mashed a three-run shot off the right-field foul pole to give the Bombers what looked like a commanding 9-4 lead.—
James O'Connell,
New York Daily News,
2 Aug. 2025
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Paxton has held a commanding polling lead for months, fueling concern among national Republicans that his nomination could give Democrats a stronger shot at flipping a longtime red seat.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Showiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showiness. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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