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 Johnson’s performance is humble rather than showy, an impressive feat of control and restraint. Richard Lawson, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025 Burnett cackled and let out a showy sigh. Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025 But her singing now is less showy and more nuanced and carefully modulated. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025 Under a tent shrouded in shade cloth at the Desert Botanical Garden, a place known for its showy cactus displays and wildflower blooms, sits a curious collection of inconspicuous plants that could be easily overlooked by the untrained eye. John Leos, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for showy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showy
Adjective
  • Bush Hager's most noticeable symptoms include mood swings and trouble sleeping.
    Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Despite their absence from television, fans have observed that both Kassidy and Quen have been working on their physiques, showing noticeable changes.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • His dad and prominent local attorney, Alex Murdaugh, was later convicted of the double homicide.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • And while there have been prominent layoff announcements in recent weeks, that doesn’t immediately translate to higher unemployment.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The performance opened with a black and white sequence, before partner Emma Slater joined him for a dramatic choreography.
    Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The comedy, often quite broad, is occasionally jarringly incongruous, and the dramatic stakes of the season-long arc sometimes vanish entirely.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • With Duck out, the team will likely look to Kendall Sheffield to take a more commanding role in the secondary.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
  • There were some attitude issues in the Patriots’ wide receiver room last season without a commanding veteran leader.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The prototype machine showed remarkable speed, deploying up to 25,000 feet of fiber in little over an hour, which is around 10 times quicker than the average of 35 feet per minute for traditional tractor conveyance methods.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Unwrap remarkable value in this beautiful collection, which is iconically Vogue.
    Ellie Davis, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In a rare moment of impressive hosting, Vanessa Lachey pointed out that Edmond's traumatic childhood and upbringing might result in him only focusing on the positive memories and blocking out any negative memories as a coping mechanism.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Playing sinister demon Bathsheba in The Conjuring universe isn't Joseph Bishara's only impressive talent.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Novartis has been proactively striking deals this year to address the impending patent cliff for some of its blockbuster drugs, including Entresto for heart failure, Xolair for asthma and Cosentyx for autoimmune diseases.
    Reuters, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
  • View gallery - 7 images New York City has gained a striking addition to its iconic skyline.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In the first six months of 2025, the list of billion-dollar disasters is mostly comprised of severe thunderstorms and tornado outbreaks, reflecting the conspicuous absence of landfalling hurricanes so far this season.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
  • In some circles, pointing out a guy’s height — or conspicuous lack of it, in Gutfeld’s pint-sized case — might be considered uncool.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Showy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showy. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

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