SHOW OFF Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

show off 1 of 2

verb

Definition of show off

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

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

show-off

2 of 2

noun

as in hotshot

informal + disapproving a person who tries to impress other people with his or her abilities or possessions

Related Words

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 show off

Verb

Lhuillier then helped Emma show off all the convertible elements of the ensemble to the group. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 26 July 2026 The response from the supporters in the stands was the noisiest heard during the entire session, no small feat given Cole Palmer and Estevao had been showing off their skills. — Simon Johnson, New York Times, 26 July 2026

Noun

But there’s value to the subtle, occasional mention of an appropriate insider name, a gesture that’s more like a secret handshake than the work of an oafish show-off. — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 25 Nov. 2025 Luxury can sometimes be interpreted as someone, who is a show-off. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for show off

Recent Examples of Synonyms for show off

Verb

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
What followed was a playful back-and-forth, with the two monkeys horsing around in a way that had the comment sections absolutely buzzing.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Mar. 2026

Definition of horse around

Noun

Adapted from Elle Kennedy’s novels of the same name and following a group of friends at the fictional Briar University, Season 1 is about Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli), a young hockey hotshot and Hannah Wells (Ella Bright), a bubbly music major.

— Arushi Jacob, Variety, 22 June 2026
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

Definition of hotshot

Verb

Use leftover cheese scraps, cut up, in pasta salad, melted in macaroni and cheese, or add to snack boxes.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2026
The director planned to film the killing of a live donkey, which would be cut up for food by actors portraying laborers.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

Definition of cut up

Verb

Justice John Dixon said Bauer Media had failed to show the claims made about Wilson were substantially true or trivial.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Techradar’s recent survey on consumer attitudes to AI shows a drop in the use of AI services such as Gemini and ChatGPT.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of show

Noun

The show follows Chickie (Pompeo) and Doreen, two estranged half-sisters who are both struggling to get by when their wise guy dad unexpectedly kicks the bucket.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 July 2026
Here’s a look at what each team in the NFC North has done in free agency, and how the wise guys in Las Vegas currently rank the division.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Definition of wise guy

Verb

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
Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.

— Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026

Definition of fool around

Verb

Many of the cards and other messages fill the walls at an indoor Punch birthday exhibit where visitors can also view video chronicling Punch from his earliest days.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Court documents citing the 2021 communications between Bock and congressional staffers in Omar’s office were entered as government exhibits in the fraud kingpin’s federal trial.

— Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 24 July 2026

Definition of exhibit

Browse Nearby Words

shown up (for)

show off

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Show off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/show%20off. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of show off

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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