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
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2025
This week, actress Brooke Shields showed off her interview skills by hosting the Monday and Tuesday episodes.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Brighton Beach can be a relentless show-off that way, your feelings be damned.
—Rachel Sonis, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for show off
Verb
As his three dancers lift weights and hit the heavy bag behind him, Lil Nas shows off his six-pack abs while wearing just a pair of pink shorts and matching hat and holding a pink basketball in one hand.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2025
This week, actress Brooke Shields showed off her interview skills by hosting the Monday and Tuesday episodes.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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
Brighton Beach can be a relentless show-off that way, your feelings be damned.
—Rachel Sonis, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for show off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for show off
Verb
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Elsewhere, two boys, Frank and Alain, get up to assorted mischief, sneaking onto a baseball diamond at night or horsing around on railroad tracks, although there are hints that Frank’s family may leave Cuba soon.—
Ben Kenigsberg,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2025
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In the video, Payne is shown horsing around with a large outdoor crowd and his bandmates, encouraging the fans to quiet their screaming and then raise the volume all the way back up.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Above the doorways, delicate gold cherubs peer down, which Trump was keen to display as a symbolic gesture.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
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Dimon displays this principle by strengthening key relationships and positioning himself in a position of growth and development through frequent business travel and getting out of the office as much as possible.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This time, the role of an aging legend is occupied by Tom Cruise’s fellow former heartthrob and Interview with the Vampire co-star Brad Pitt, who plays an F1 veteran who comes out of retirement to train a young hotshot (Damson Idris).—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2025
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Ben McLane, first row far right, was part of the hotshot crew that responded to the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.—
Jacob Soboroff,
NBC News,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The short reel shows users how to cut up and tape together cardboard pieces to create a little homemade tool that helps toddlers learn how to fold shirts.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA TODAY,
10 Mar. 2025
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This tincture spray — made by soaking cut up avocado pits in 91 percent rubbing alcohol overnight — can help with just about any type of pain, one TikTok user claims in a video that has racked up millions of views.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Before examining the film to show what went wrong, UCLA starts every practice with everything that went right.—
Austin Knoblauch,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2025
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Recent polls have shown that Trump's handling of the economy is a key factor in his declining popularity on a national level.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Those who crave the thrill of a victory may embody the competitor. Bigger, bolder personalities may shine as jokers, always fooling around, or as storytellers, bringing imagination to life.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
23 Feb. 2025
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While Mark and Helly were fooling around, Helly wasn’t fulfilling her promise to go get the directions Irving left tucked behind Dylan’s motivational poster.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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This Riesling exhibits peach, apricot, and floral notes, with a touch of sweetness and a balanced finish.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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After 30 years of that work, Dvorkin has now been named a recipient of the 2025 Horatio Alger Award, an award given to professionals who exhibit perseverance and integrity despite undergoing personal hardships.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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Swaggering ex-con Sullivan’s conscience manifests in the form of Father Jerry Connolly (Pat O’Brien), the childhood friend turned cleric who does his best to keep the wise guys in line and set another example for the lovable, mischievous Dead End Kids.—
Mike Barnes,
The Hollywood Reporter,
17 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Show off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/show%20off. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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