Synonyms

flashy

American

[flash-ee] / ˈflæʃ i /

adjective

flashier, flashiest

sparkling or brilliant, especially in a superficial way or for the moment.

a flashy performance.
ostentatiously or vulgarly smart; showy; gaudy.

flashy clothes.

flashy British

/ ˈflæʃɪ /

adjective

brilliant and dazzling, esp for a short time or in a superficial way
cheap and ostentatious

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See gaudy ¹.

Other Word Forms

flashily adverb
flashiness noun
unflashy adjective

Etymology

Origin of flashy

First recorded in 1575–85; flash + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A newer, flashier toy posing a threat to the established order has been a running theme of the “Toy Story” franchise from the very beginning.

From Salon

Starting around the early April “Liberation Day” market rebound, flashy companies in hot sectors with little to no profits were the stars.

From The Wall Street Journal

Downtown Munich is best-known for chic shops and flashy fast cars but right now its streets are bedecked with posters advertising next generation drones.

From BBC

In “The Unknown,” he portrays not only Elliott but all the people he interacts with, and differentiates them crisply with convincing accents but without costume changes or flashy mannerisms.

From The Wall Street Journal

After all, this virtuoso who has flirted with the boundaries of figure skating at every turn couldn’t possibly resist a trick this flashy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023