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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shows off
In the after photo, the actor shows off his muscular physique in shorts and a tank top.
—
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 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
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 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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One rendition of the story even displays a little sympathy for the devil, as Jennings shares.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
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Martell’s group was the first Western delegation in years to visit the International Friendship Exhibition, a sprawling mountainside museum that displays gifts and artifacts from foreign dignitaries.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Curated by the same folks who present the Oscars, the museum, which opened in 2021, showcases rare props, iconic costumes, and original scripts through meticulous, behind-the-scenes exhibits that reveal how movies are made.—
Sophie-Claire Hoeller,
Vogue,
23 Oct. 2025
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As a result, the battery exhibits smoother lithium growth, enhanced safety, and significantly improved cycling stability.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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The kid acts up, the dad disciplines him and mom just sends a sorry text.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Air Mail’s fate shows that even the masters of the old form faced major headwinds when trying to navigate the new media landscape.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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Video shows one agent restraining the man, then dragging him around as another agent helps pin him to the ground.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Watts then looks toward the Kardashians camera and flashes a befuddled look.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
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The movie begins with a 10-year-old Michael already showing the brutality for which The Shape was known, then flashes forward 15 years to an adult Michael (Tyler Mane) pursuing his younger sister, Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton).—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The video podcast series comes as Rolling Stone unveils its digital archive of The Rolling Stone Interviews.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
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Brand tradition has it that each new drop — Sanoë unveils two yearly, with the ideation process kicking off a year in advance — needs to feature one holiday-specific offering.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shows off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shows%20off. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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