1
: clothed in vivid colors
a garish clown
2
a
: excessively or disturbingly vivid
garish colors
garish imagery
b
: offensively or distressingly bright : glaring
3
: tastelessly showy : flashy
garish neon signs
garishly
adverb
garishness
noun
Examples of garish in a Sentence
the wedding guest's thick makeup was garish and unnecessary
Recent Examples on the Web
Translating Anthony Burgess’s stylized, dystopian novel for the screen, Kubrick adopts a playful, formal approach that combines colorful, futuristic exuberance with rapid-fire editing, changes in camera speed, and a garish production design that melds space-age and Georgian-era aesthetics.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Soon enough, George realizes his wholesome American town has become Pottersville, a tawdry neon strip that looks like a 1940s fever dream of vice—all neon lights, garish bars, dancing girls, and desperation.
—Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Dec. 2025
The white shade offers extreme eye brightening, in a playful, non-garish way.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2025
This has translated into freakishly unstable songs that spin from garish wubs and witch folk to lullaby-like purrs.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for garish
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Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Soon enough, George realizes his wholesome American town has become Pottersville, a tawdry neon strip that looks like a 1940s fever dream of vice—all neon lights, garish bars, dancing girls, and desperation.
—Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Dec. 2025
The white shade offers extreme eye brightening, in a playful, non-garish way.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2025
This has translated into freakishly unstable songs that spin from garish wubs and witch folk to lullaby-like purrs.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for garish
Cite this Entry
“Garish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/garish. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
garish
adjective
gar·ish
ˈga(ə)r-ish 
ˈge(ə)r-
: too bright or showy : gaudy
garishly
adverb
garishness
noun
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