showy

[ shoh-ee ]

adjective

, show·i·er, show·i·est.

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

Derived Forms

• ˈshowiness, noun
• ˈshowily, adverb

Other Words From

• un·showy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of showy¹

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

Synonym Study

See gaudy ¹, grandiose.

Example Sentences

Noel Brewer of the University of North Carolina said analyses have shown lotteries “have largely been a failure” despite some early interest in the showy prizes.

From Washington Post

Also, keto egg bites seem to be merely mini-quiches with a fad-diet name, but those showy Montanans had to go put on airs, like usual.

From Washington Post

His approach isn’t exactly showy, yet its disciplined austerity calls attention to itself.

From Time

While Wonder Woman 1984 still has a bit of the old magic, and its leads all turn in terrific performances, the film is hampered by a frequently nonsensical plot, extraneous showy action sequences, and it's way too heavy-handed with the moralizing.

From Ars Technica

However, much of that is to support Vice President Mike Pence’s vision of getting astronauts back to the moon by 2024—a showy, nostalgic, but unrealistic goal, conveniently timed for when Pence might run for president.

From MIT Technology Review

But that category is full of showy performances, and George is not the showboating role in that play.

From The Daily Beast

The showy accoutrements of state power have replaced the vestments of resistance.

From The Daily Beast

Oh, and I had a traditionally showy headdress out of the same fabric.

From The Daily Beast

The category gives actors the chance to do showy, attention-grabbing work, stepping into ready-made characters.

From The Daily Beast

It is an archetypal Leigh Fermor anecdote: beautifully written, fabulously romantic and just a little showy.

From The Daily Beast

Among these showy and high-bred soldiers, the hours passed delightfully.

From Project Gutenberg

The leaf is small and light green, and it is quite (p. 384) a showy plant when in blossom.

From Project Gutenberg

It is to genuine politeness and good breeding, what the showy paste is to the pure diamond.

From Project Gutenberg

The flowers do not have the showy colored bracts which forms so prominent a feature in those of many other plants.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a showy boot shop now where the Business College used to be; the new place is in Kingsway.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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