ostentatious

[os-ten-tey-shuh s, -tuh n-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ostentatious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

characterized by or given to pretentious or conspicuous show in an attempt to impress others: an ostentatious dresser.

(of actions, manner, qualities exhibited, etc.) intended to attract notice: Lady Bountiful's ostentatious charity.

Origin of ostentatious

First recorded in 1650–60; ostentat(ion) + -ious

Related formsos·ten·ta·tious·ly, adverbos·ten·ta·tious·ness, nounun·os·ten·ta·tious, adjectiveun·os·ten·ta·tious·ly, adverb

Synonyms for ostentatious

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ostentatious ON THESAURUS.COM

1. See grandiose.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for unostentatious

unpretentious, average, cheap, discreet, dry, economical, fair, humble, inexpensive, middling, moderate, natural, plain, reasonable, simple, small, unadorned, unaffected, unassuming, unembellished

Examples from the Web for unostentatious

Historical Examples of unostentatious

His generosity to brother artists in need was splendid, but quiet and unostentatious.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles
Unostentatious in her work, yet such service cannot escape comment.
Oswald Langdon
Carson Jay Lee
“She is my ideal of unostentatious respectability,” answered MacShaughnassy.
Novel Notes
Jerome K. Jerome
By nature he was a democrat, plain, simple, and unostentatious.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 4 of 8
Various
Table appointments at this time were most simple and unostentatious.
As I Remember
Marian Gouverneur

British Dictionary definitions for unostentatious

ostentatious

adjective

characterized by pretentious, showy, or vulgar display

Derived Formsostentatiously, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for unostentatious

adj.

1747, from un- (1) "not" + ostentatious. Related: Unostentatiously.

ostentatious

adj.

1701, from ostentation + -ous. Earlier in a similar sense were ostentative (c.1600); ostentive (1590s). Related: Ostentatiously; ostentatiousness (1650s).