Definition of ostentatiousnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word ostentatious different from other adjectives like it?

The words pretentious and showy are common synonyms of ostentatious. While all three words mean "given to excessive outward display," ostentatious stresses vainglorious display or parade.

the ostentatious summer homes of the rich

When is it sensible to use pretentious instead of ostentatious?

The synonyms pretentious and ostentatious are sometimes interchangeable, but pretentious implies an appearance of importance not justified by the thing's value or the person's standing.

a pretentious parade of hard words

When could showy be used to replace ostentatious?

The words showy and ostentatious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, showy implies an imposing or striking appearance but usually suggests cheapness or poor taste.

the performers' showy costumes

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ostentatious Underneath all the spandex and over-the-top production numbers is a sincere film that cares as much about sharing the joy of music as satirizing its ostentatious performance. Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025 Is there a more ostentatious fat hag in America than Meghan McCain? Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025 On Sunday, Camp Flog Gnaw featured a swirl of artists, from GloRilla to A$AP Rocky, who commanded the stage with their charismatic rap flows and ostentatious on-stage personas. Malik Peay, Essence, 25 Nov. 2025 In a similar but far less ostentatious vein, John Mayer casually rocked a unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak at Dubai Watch Week. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ostentatious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostentatious
Adjective
  • Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel already established a Gothic world in which the trauma is as loud as the wind on the moors, and Emerald Fennell’s adaptation excises major portions of the book to streamline that atmospheric darkness and ultimate tragedy.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.
    Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • He is paired with an arrogant young partner (Lou), a second-generation political scion whose personality clashes sharply with his own.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
  • In the early years of his fame as a writer, Rushdie had something of a reputation for being prickly and arrogant, but Gibney’s portrait reveals a man mellowed by time and experience.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Closer to beach and mountain weekends, and to big, noisy holiday gatherings, and to raising children who got to see their grandparents all the time.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The album’s best moments come when Joji deploys the noisy, aggressive production favored by morose rappers like fakemink, Bladee, and Playboi Carti.
    Mehan Jayasuriya, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • There was no grandiose plan, but that’s what Jimmy and I knew.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
  • But their rise has also attracted a slew of criticism, fueled in recent decades by the grandiose lifestyles and criminal convictions of some godmen.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Darnold’s stats weren’t gaudy, but his steady, mistake-free performance was what the Seahawks needed on a night Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III totaled 161 scrimmage yards and Seattle’s defense dominated.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Some are diamond-studded and gaudy.
    Chris Morris, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • But Newsom’s shadow diplomacy, widely seen as a pretentious distraction during the Biden years, has a different look at a moment of nativism and trade conflict in Washington.
    Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Elevated with an ever-evolving menu of dishes in a non-pretentious yet upscale environment, Forty 1 is led by Chef Lindsey Dale who is no stranger to fresh, local ingredients, and who also works closely with local purveyors.
    David Duran, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • For the 2026 reimagining, Fennell worked with costume designer Jacqueline Durran to create dozens of costumes (Cathy alone, played by Margot Robbie, had 50) that were heavily inspired by the extravagant, unselfconscious and campy outfits of the mid-century.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
  • One-upmanship, extravagant architectural plans, and a comparatively short construction schedule result in big bills, which are often not reflected in the original bids.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • When a pompous male customer refused to be waited on by a female server, Bass quietly approached the table.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Jeffrey Tambor Known for playing the pompous, self-important mayor of Whoville, Jeffery Tambor also has an esteemed career across television and film.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ostentatious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostentatious. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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