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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

Examples 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 His recent monograph, Peter Ivens - Houses (Luster), highlights how to create character in a home without being ostentatious. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2024 Of clothing: not showy, ostentatious, or overly revealing. Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024 Never flashy or ostentatious, these prewar buildings were elegant and discreet, clad in brick or limestone, with setbacks and terraces that afforded owners, especially those living near the top floors, private views of the sky above and the city below. David Netto, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2024 At the end of the season, the winner will receive an ostentatious championship belt because why not. Vulture Editors, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ostentatious 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostentatious
Adjective
  • The result has been a film rollout that at times feels louder than the film itself.
    New York Times, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2024
  • And that’s the fine line developers and studio heads have to walk in the face of this newer, meaner, louder movement against diversity in the industry: whether or not to acknowledge its existence.
    Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The arrogant millionaire heir James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) then has to deal with the quick-witted scholarship student, for better or worse.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024
  • The truth is that women often downplay their accomplishments to avoid being perceived as arrogant, but this approach can unintentionally undermine your professional growth.
    Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • In today’s noisy landscape, initial efforts to get a fledgling client noticed may fall short.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Positive energy Bears wide receiver DJ Moore looked around a noisy Friday afternoon locker room when asked how the team has handled the recent coaching changes.
    Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Marshall was known for his use of ornate and grandiose designs, which often features intricate details and luxurious materials, according to the Benjamin Marshall Society.
    Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The Tuscan-style villa is grandiose in every sense of the word.
    Claudia Williams, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Social media footage also has shown Syrians touring the Assads’ opulent estates, revealing extravagant decor and possessions out of reach for many who lived through the country’s civil war since 2011.
    Sally Abou Aljoud, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
  • Every year, the Kardashian-Jenners host an extravagant Christmas Eve bash equipped with over-the-top decorations and activities at one of their sprawling Southern California mansions.
    Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • At first, the girls are only in danger of being forced to listen to one man’s extremely pretentious opinions about religion, philosophy, culture, and yes, pop music, which is terrifying in itself.
    Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Co-founder and master distiller Andy Wahl grew up in wine country, in California’s Sonoma County, and felt that the fine wines harvested in the region were pretentious and inaccessible.
    John Kell, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • They were hidden from Eliza by a palm made gaudy with orchids.
    Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
  • The series became famous for being a relic of the eighties thanks to its rock anthems, gaudy clothing and karate falling out of fashion.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The disapproval is exemplified by a pompous New Yorker interviewed on the street by young fans.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Nov. 2024
  • Bonneville, as the ineffectually pompous Mr. Brown, always gives the impression of having a whale of a time.
    Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near ostentatious

Cite this Entry

“Ostentatious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostentatious. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on ostentatious

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