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
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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
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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
-
The lines on the court illustrate the noticeable boundary differences.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
There's a noticeable difference between similar comforters made with down and down alternatives.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
-
When all of the ornamentation falls away, especially now that the show’s in its third season, Billeter thinks that the camera and the composition of the frame can really get at the emotional storylines.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
12 Aug. 2025
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Seventeenth-century colonists believed that hairstyling—such as its ornamentation and its length—offered important evidence of a person’s social identity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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The series also touches on the controversial, dramatic weight loss of Rachel Frederickson, the winner of season 15, who dropped down to 105 pounds from 260 pounds.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
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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Two of its shows which brought in the most nominations were certainly grand spectacles that came with a higher price tag.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Aug. 2025
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And the nearly exclusive white crowds that gathered for the spectacle were by no means thin.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Garcia has tremendous reflexes and is a commanding presence in the box.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
16 Aug. 2025
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Barnsdall is home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s first Los Angeles commission, Hollyhock House, with its commanding monolithic forms, geometric ornamentation, and modern take on Mayan Revival architecture.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Showiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showiness. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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