adjective
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gaudy, flashy, or ostentatious
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making a brilliant or imposing display
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of showy
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.
Wintour was reportedly “underwhelmed” by Malle’s selection, but who doesn’t love a showy primary?
From Salon • May 5, 2026
While much of today’s advances are less showy, focused on things like energy efficiency and reducing elevator wait-times, some of what the industry is working on may yet produce a few gasps.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
He also tried showy penstemons, but they didn’t like the shade near the house.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
"He was not showy and maybe that was to the detriment of his legacy but I hope people will start to recognise him a little more than maybe he has been so far."
From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026
A showy solo in an Italian opera might elicit spontaneous applause and even encores.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
