showy

[shoh-ee]

adjective

showier, showiest 

1. making an imposing display.

   showy flowers.

2. pompous; ostentatious; gaudy.

   Synonyms: loud
   Antonyms: humble

showy

/ ˈʃəʊɪ /

adjective

1. gaudy, flashy, or ostentatious

2. making a brilliant or imposing display

Other Word Forms

• showiness noun
• showily adverb
• unshowy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of showy¹

First recorded in 1705–15; show + -y ¹

Synonym Study

See gaudy ¹, grandiose.

Example Sentences

But this was the least showy pop show I’ve seen in years.

From Los Angeles Times

Maybe it’s happiest tucked into a cast-iron skillet, going golden and jammy while the showier types preen in their baskets.

From Salon

Three seasons after George and Bertha carted their majestic plunder from Old Europe into their showy manse, they’ve laid claim to New York society.

From Salon

It also offers a variety of seeds for black, white, purple, Cleveland and hummingbird sages, as well as apricot mallow, showy penstemon, yarrow, California poppies, caterpillar phacelia and more.

From Los Angeles Times

Since finishing in second place on “American Idol” in 2009, Adam Lambert has established himself as one of pop’s most reliable glamazons: a big, showy voice delivering big, dramatic songs about big, clearly defined emotions.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• classy 
• garish 
• gaudy 
• ornate 
• ostentatious 
• pretentious 
• sensational 
• splashy