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 showy Another showy Thai hybrid to be on the lookout for is ‘Iceman,’ with random narrow green lines contrasting against its thick, silvery leaves. The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025 Hawke’s isn’t a showy performance, despite Lorenz’s brash persona. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025 For houseplant lovers looking to upgrade from a classic Monstera deliciosa, 'Esqueleto' is just as showy and impressive, with even more dramatic leaves. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025 Johnson’s performance is humble rather than showy, an impressive feat of control and restraint. Richard Lawson, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for showy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showy
Adjective
  • Similarly, the depth of the pile doesn’t rebound if furniture is moved, which can be noticeable for a period of time.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Just as Mamdani aims to improve the lives of young people more broadly, those working under him could see a noticeable shift in how the workplace is run.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The team settled for adding TE Josh Whyle and defensive lineman Arron Mosby from the practice squad to the active roster, but Green Bay is apparently in on one prominent free-agent defensive back as well.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Several prominent business leaders have already voiced cautious optimism, seeing in Mamdani a chance to reset the relationship between City Hall and commerce.
    Sally Susman, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The World Series continues with Game 6 as the Dodgers look to take a commanding 3-1 lead.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Taylor opted to go sans top beneath the jacket, heightening the commanding sensual style.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The dramatic retelling chronicles the moments leading up to and immediately after the shotgun killings of Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, and teenage son, Paul.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The country had made dramatic leaps in health-system capacity and life expectancy with the help of a mixture of projects.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Performers Special Award Spanish star Raphael will be honored as the Latin Recording Academy’s 2025 Person of the Year in celebration of his remarkable 60-year-plus career.
    Griselda Flores, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
  • The information provided to the committee alleges a series of remarkable steps taken to accommodate Maxwell after she was quietly transferred to a medium-security facility in Texas shortly after her meeting with Blanche.
    Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Brazil is set to introduce an ambitious and innovative new system for financing forest protection (more on that below) and Lula comes into COP30 with an impressive record of successful forest protection.
    Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • From the facade crafted from hinoki wood, a rare cypress that’s often reserved for Japanese temples and shrines, to impressive cultural programming and exhibitions, there’s always something worth seeing.
    Jade Moyano, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Calf & Pony Hair The sleek, tactile surface of pony hair adds a bold edge to any accessory, creating a striking contrast in bags, hats, and footwear.
    Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Several of the most striking photographs in the book are of the studio itself, which appears empty except for a pair of high heels reflected in a wall of mirrors or a rumpled military blanket, a favorite backdrop, pinned to a bare wall.
    Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The most conspicuous candidate is Snook’s Marissa Irvine, the mother who shows up on a stranger’s doorstep to pick up her son, Milo (Duke McCloud), on that miserable day.
    Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
  • And consumer cyclicals – airlines up almost 6%, regional banks relaxing higher, even the beleaguered restaurant group up on not-so-great earnings – are trying to get traction after some conspicuous underperformance.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Showy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showy. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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