1
as in to horse around
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
the athletes warmed up, happily showing off for the crowd before the match officially started
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to display
to present so as to invite notice or attention
she just wants to show off her new jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hotshot
informal + disapproving
a person who tries to impress other people with his or her abilities or possessions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of show off
Lottie Gross, AFAR Media, 3 June 2025
The pants have a supportive high-waist design, plus the tapered legs will show off sneakers, sandals, and more summer shoes.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 26 May 2025
Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
This one-of-a-kind cultural exchange program invites visitors to come into the homes of vetted, welcoming locals, who are likewise looking to meet travelers and show-off what their country has to offer in a unique way — and maybe just make a few new lifelong friendships along the way.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for show off
Verb
Without its own sandy beach to show off, it is often ignored by domestic visitors in favor of its seaside neighbors like Bournemouth or Portsmouth.
—Lottie Gross, AFAR Media, 3 June 2025
The pants have a supportive high-waist design, plus the tapered legs will show off sneakers, sandals, and more summer shoes.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 26 May 2025
Noun
This was my chance to not be an actor, not have that stink of being an actor, that egotistical, show-off, controlling, making choices, being clever part of being an actor.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
This one-of-a-kind cultural exchange program invites visitors to come into the homes of vetted, welcoming locals, who are likewise looking to meet travelers and show-off what their country has to offer in a unique way — and maybe just make a few new lifelong friendships along the way.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for show off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for show off
Verb
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Fayetteville Sad Palomino’s Will King releases a collection of home recordings In between horsing around with his longtime band Sad Palomino, Will King has been recording and trying to decide the best way to share songs, mostly written during winters from 2020 to 2025.—
Monica Hooper,
Arkansas Online,
25 May 2025
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The sport requires a combination of elegance and toughness as a team of eight girls wear long gowns, perfectly matching accessories and impeccable makeup while riding horses around an arena.—
Daniel Eduardo Hernandez,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The software was improperly programmed, the car manufacturer said, causing the rearview camera to freeze, and in some cases, the camera won’t display at all.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
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First displayed in 2023 at the LUMA Foundation in Arles, France, the four hundred and fifty-four images hang on large metal lattices that stand tall beneath the Armory’s lofty ceilings.—
Max Norman,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
Noun
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But hotshot crews are assigned to the toughest parts of a fireline, and sometimes have to hike the farthest, or do the most grueling labor, tackle kind of the most dangerous assignment.—
Meredith Wolf Schizer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
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Aoki had turned fifty that season and was widely considered the most experienced hotshot in California—a state that claims the most skilled firefighters globally.—
Jordan Thomas
May 28,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Nothing beats the taste of a refreshing piece of watermelon on a hot day, so having some cut up and ready in the refrigerator is crucial as the days warm up.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
14 June 2025
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Sandoval had cut up furniture in a rage and could make their tough brother cry, says Matt Green.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
11 June 2025
Verb
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The release did not specify the date of the arrest, but Ada County Jail records show that Teague was booked Thursday evening.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
14 June 2025
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However, even a cursory comparison to the air forces of Iran’s neighbors shows how far behind Iran’s once mighty air force has truly fallen, irrespective of what Vahedi would have had his domestic audiences believe before Friday.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Verb
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As Molly and Guy start to fool around, things get hot and heavy, but Ernie has a job to do.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
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As Molly and Guy start to fool around, things get hot and heavy, but Ernie has a job to do.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Indeed, Eugenio, whose large-scale figurative paintings have been exhibited across Europe, Latin America, and the US, exerts a fatherly influence across the campo.—
Alessandra Schade,
Vogue,
7 June 2025
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Travis Decker had exhibited mental health issues prior to the girls' deaths, the court filings show.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
Noun
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And for the most part, the wise guys weren't overly impressed with the Green Bay Packers’ offseason.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
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The wise guys that summarily swooped him up were rewarded with 10 multiple-TD games and a QB8 finish on the year.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Show off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/show%20off. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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