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
Relevance
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
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of show off
Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
One gallery shows off for the first time the complete treasure collection of King Tutankhamun (over 5,000 pieces) in a massive 7,500 square-meter exhibit.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
Otherwise, this is a visually stunning chassis that will satisfy patient-building component show-offs.
—PCMAG, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for show off
Verb
Bubblegum-pink parasols frame the infinity pool, which hovers over the private sandy beach and shows off views spanning all the way to the Lérins Islands.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
One gallery shows off for the first time the complete treasure collection of King Tutankhamun (over 5,000 pieces) in a massive 7,500 square-meter exhibit.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
In This Article Take It Easy With Greens Pick a Combo With Staying Power
Rely On Dependable Winners
The Three Rules of Container TLC
These summer show-off container gardens will brighten up any porch or patio all season long—even in the Southern heat.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
Otherwise, this is a visually stunning chassis that will satisfy patient-building component show-offs.
—PCMAG, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for show off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for show off
Verb
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Ortiz navigated past 17 other horses around the final turn and made a hard charge down the stretch.—
Stephen Whyno,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
Ortiz navigated past 17 other horses around the final turn and made a hard charge down the stretch.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Worked on by architect Julia Morgan for nearly 30 years, the estate, which was never officially finished, includes 165 rooms and 123 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways, where Hearst displayed his impressive art collection.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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Stephenson displayed his versatility again in that award-winning debut year, playing in a number of positions across defence and midfield, but has benefited from more stability in this one.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Gao and his three cofounders aren’t your conventional AI hotshots with credentials from leading AI labs or Stanford University.—
Ben Weiss,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
-
The Waves’ young hotshot, Dyson Gibbs (Uche Agada), steps on the toes of the team’s longtime star, Marcus Winfield (Toby Sandeman).—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Using unseen footage from Presley’s 1969 to 1976 Las Vegas residency, the movie plays the hits – plus The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel – but also showcases his sense of humor, quipping with crowds and cutting up with bandmates.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
-
And so they were cut up into pieces.—
Michael Soncin,
Vanity Fair,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The charge comes after photos and videos showed Lang outside the Collin County courthouse several times this past week during the murder trial for teen Karmelo Anthony.—
Shawna Mizelle,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
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More recently, footage released Wednesday showed Gaethje using the FBI Headquarters as part of his preparation for his lightweight title fight against Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The wise guys already view Denver suspiciously, casting them with the 12th-best odds to reach the Super Bowl next February.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Framing wise guys on murder charges for Whitey Bulger, looking the other way on a gangland hit by a BPD detective in Canton in 1976, the list of scandals is too great to even list them all.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Another horny couple on vacation couldn’t wait until their flight landed to fool around and insisted on doing so in the plane's cabin.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
And this fool is taking it with the fools around him.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In May 2024, two young girls came home from their Winnetka daycare exhibiting abnormal behavior.—
Jeff Nguyen,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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The clarinettist Boris Allakhverdyan exhibited spectacular jazz chops in Artie Shaw’s Concerto for Clarinet.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Show off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/show%20off. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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