1
as in cuts up
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
the athletes warmed up, happily showing off for the crowd before the match officially started
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in displays
to present so as to invite notice or attention
she just wants to show off her new jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shows off
After boarding, the Full House star shows off his best straight face.
—
Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
His multicourse omakase shows off the chef’s restrained minimalist Edomae style and love of aged fish.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Finally, Florida cranberry (Hibiscus sabdariffa) shows off stunning, edible red calyces that remain once flowers have fallen and can be used in a variety of recipes for baked goods, stews, chutneys, or simply for making tea.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Next to the arm, an ankle — where Umansky is tagged — shows off a tattoo with four thin black lines.
—Emy Lacroix, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
This garden shows off its autumnal hues as does the Lower Woodland Garden with its gentian trees.
—Jeanine Barone, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The vehicle has been completely restored, and really shows off the Verde Acquamarina paint.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
His multicourse omakase shows off the chef’s restrained minimalist Edomae style and love of aged fish.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Finally, Florida cranberry (Hibiscus sabdariffa) shows off stunning, edible red calyces that remain once flowers have fallen and can be used in a variety of recipes for baked goods, stews, chutneys, or simply for making tea.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Next to the arm, an ankle — where Umansky is tagged — shows off a tattoo with four thin black lines.
—Emy Lacroix, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
This garden shows off its autumnal hues as does the Lower Woodland Garden with its gentian trees.
—Jeanine Barone, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The vehicle has been completely restored, and really shows off the Verde Acquamarina paint.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shows off
Verb
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Options laid out in an Interior Department study of new operating rules absent a seven-state solution envision Lower Basin cuts up to twice what the Southwestern states have suggested.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The list below displays all public schools in alphabetical order, followed by private schools and then colleges and universities.—
Mike Toole,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Seeing the actress let her freak flag fly is a delight, and O’Brien, whose character also displays many facets, matches her step for step.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Experimental and first-principles studies confirm that MoSi2 exhibits axis-dependent conduction polarity (ADCP) in both the Seebeck and Hall coefficients.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
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The French menu exhibits global influences, with dishes like John Dory with hazelnut, and quinoa flavored with mustard and citrus.—
Meredith Bethune,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But if your transmission acts up or your steering system goes haywire, car insurance won't help you.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
5 Dec. 2025
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In the cold and austere German winter (a far cry from Dakar’s physical and cultural warmth), an anxious Nourou acts up outside a hotel and is accosted by a Polish security guard, setting off a minor chain reaction in which Maja intervenes on his behalf, much to his chagrin.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Footage of the incident shows King Charles greeting dozens of residents when one man shouted at him, asking whether the monarch had urged police to investigate his disgraced brother, according to The Times.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Our research shows these concerts significantly increased occupancy rates in short-term rentals – although the effect did not translate to hotels.—
Gidon Jakar,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The mysterious crime family flashes across the screen with John Noble and Luke Kirby portraying certain members.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
20 Jan. 2026
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Sir Idris Elba flashes his charming smile while visiting the Graham Norton Show, at BBC Studioworks in London.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At this year’s Olympics, Swiss Timing, sister company to Omega under the parent Swatch Group, unveils a new generation of motion analysis and computer vision technology.—
Maurizio Arseni,
IEEE Spectrum,
4 Feb. 2026
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India unveils budget, but investors aren’t impressed India’s new annual budget prioritizes fiscal discipline and manufacturing in critical sectors but nevertheless failed to impress investors hoping to see bolder reforms to meet the turbulent geopolitical moment.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shows off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shows%20off. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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