as in pomp
excessive or unnecessary display
service that is the essence of swank: the waiters pull out your chair for you and even place your napkin on your lap
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or swanky
as in ornate
excessively showy
drove up in a red sports car, the swank interior of which was decorated in silver and black
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swank
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
This Bible swanks a custom embossing of the inauguration date, and like other Bibles in the collection, it is written in the King James translation and includes historic American documents, like the text of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 30 July 2024
The scarves were a way to bring softness to something masculine like a suit jacket, but the swank of the fabric in its length and elaborate draping pushed the feeling beyond refinement into something sublime, imperious, and cool.
—Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 2 Mar. 2023
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
Typical celebrity riders make demands related to an actor’s comfort — such as a swank trailer, high-quality food and luxurious accommodations and transportation.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swank
Noun
What the Voice of the People is saying is: ‘Look at that frightful ass Spode swanking about in footer bags.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
This Bible swanks a custom embossing of the inauguration date, and like other Bibles in the collection, it is written in the King James translation and includes historic American documents, like the text of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The bright blend of decor is just the right amount of kitsch, fun, and whimsy for a new 14-room townhouse in swank and swish Chelsea.
—Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 30 July 2024
The scarves were a way to bring softness to something masculine like a suit jacket, but the swank of the fabric in its length and elaborate draping pushed the feeling beyond refinement into something sublime, imperious, and cool.
—Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 2 Mar. 2023
Verb
As digitally dropped threats from an unknown predator grow increasingly sinister during the protagonist’s big date at a swank Chicago restaurant, the messages blast across the big screen in huge letters, or plaster an entire wall of the ladies’ restroom.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
Typical celebrity riders make demands related to an actor’s comfort — such as a swank trailer, high-quality food and luxurious accommodations and transportation.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swank
Noun
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Rolling out the red carpet for the first visit by a French president to the UK since 2008, the pomp and pageantry that Britain is known for was on full display.—
Lauren Said-Moorhouse,
CNN Money,
8 July 2025
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Trump was greeted with all the pomp of a royal welcome as he was met by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman while disembarking from Air Force One to the sound of fanfare.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Much of its original charm still remains, from rich carpeted staircases to vintage chandeliers and ornate moldings.—
Kim Kay,
Travel + Leisure,
20 July 2025
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New York The Palace of Versailles’ stables inspired the look of this stunning scarlet space, featuring a barrel-vaulted ceiling with three ornate chandeliers, a 60-foot bar and black-and-white checkerboard flooring.—
Jennifer Kester,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump is bragging that Japan has given him, as part of a new trade framework, $550 billion to invest in the United States.—
Josh Boak,
Chicago Tribune,
26 July 2025
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In a 2005 interview with Howard Stern, Trump bragged about his access to contestants, some of whom were as young as 14.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
Noun
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And don’t underestimate the power of beauty—not as decoration, but as revelation.—
Matthew Clark Davison,
Literary Hub,
18 July 2025
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Consequently, there’s a race against the clock to finish the floats and decorations before time runs out.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
11 July 2025
Verb
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The bullfighter Escamillo is a fantastic role for Randy Crespo, who swaggers around flaunting his alpha male status.—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
15 July 2025
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The award season kingmaker Late-breaking US policy announcements aside, Cannes is swaggering into its latest edition.—
Thomas Page,
CNN Money,
11 May 2025
Noun
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Set pieces are teased with just enough spectacle – exploding cars, balletic fight sequences, and globe-trotting vistas – to assure fans that the sequel is raising the stakes.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 July 2025
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But Brown never wanted the deeper emotions of his music and the underlying story of his own personal triumphs and tragedies get lost in the spectacle.—
Scott Huver,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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At the time, unnatural hair color was considered gaudy, a threat to the beloved ingenue aesthetic boasted by female stars such as Audrey Hepburn.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
30 June 2025
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But Oklahoma City engulfs basketball’s gaudiest attacks not in spite of its hacking but because of it.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Kardashian had been vaunting it to her with more than 300 million followers on Instagram.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
29 Apr. 2025
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Putin has vaunted the potential of its critical minerals for a deal between Moscow and Washington as its push for Ukraine's resources founders, following the White House spat between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swank. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
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