as in ostentation
excessive or unnecessary display
we were somewhat put off by the saber-rattling showiness of the military parade
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of showiness
Garcia’s finest new dishes underscore his talent for complexity that bypasses showiness.
—
Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Still, that showiness in dialogue is latched to a shallowness of characterization.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
There’s also a kind of garish showiness that the Academy isn’t immune to.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
These choices reflect a desire for comfort and authenticity rather than showiness.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Still, that showiness in dialogue is latched to a shallowness of characterization.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
There’s also a kind of garish showiness that the Academy isn’t immune to.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
These choices reflect a desire for comfort and authenticity rather than showiness.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showiness
Noun
-
The characteristics of this aesthetic begin with simple colors that evoke understated elegance—not ostentation.—
Kristine Gill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Feb. 2026
-
This gesture contrasts in the central avenue of Vassilissis Sofia, with the ostentation of the immediate official buildings, where the flags are flying full.—
Diego Parrado,
Vanity Fair,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Drinking, flamboyance, and film- and music-making bloomed.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
-
His newfound prominence and flamboyance — the eyeliner, the frequent shirtlessness, the leather pants — attract some vocal haters, but he’s gotten used to it.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His photographs vibrate with the excess of their ornamentation, with an audacity of presence that exceeds the realm of the emblematic.—
Zoë Hopkins,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Its tapered legs and subtle ornamentation give it an old world quality that still looks right at home in a contemporary designscape.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
All the pomp and circumstance without the promise of a worthy spectacle.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The dancing was kinetic and unrelenting, the show studded with myriad Easter eggs reflecting his heritage, the spectacle one of the most bracing and heartfelt the NFL has hosted in recent history.—
Jason Lamphier,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Part of it is the field design and pomp, with a treasure map surrounding the rink, a stick tap to the Gasparilla Pirate Festival that’s expected to bring a half-million people into the downtown area over the weekend.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Khamenei was born into poverty and outwardly disdains pomp, cultivating an image of pious frugality.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The white-tablecloth service transforms the casual diner into a romantic destination featuring festive decorations and a specialty menu.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Not far from the festival, many families visited the Grand Century Mall in San Jose's Little Saigon neighborhood, shopping for groceries and decorations ahead of the holiday.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
According to its website, Butcher & Singer is an homage to the glitz and class of 1940s Hollywood, reaching into the past, plucking the best and brightest aspects of a bygone era.—
Courtney Cherry,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
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There wasn’t a hint of glitz or glitter when the Grateful Dead was saluted at last year’s MusiCares Person of the Year all-star concert in Los Angeles.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The entertainment rooms can serve as places to enjoy cocktails and billiards (both villas feature Steinway & Sons grand pianos), the dining rooms feel cinematic without being too formal, and the bedroom suites favor comfort rather than flashiness.—
David Morris,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
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Leopard, cheetah, and even zebra recall an era shaped by the flashiness of Christina Aguilera and Paris Hilton.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
20 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Showiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showiness. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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