as in terrible
marked by low quality and unbecoming appearance
We tolerate the neighbors' tawdry Christmas display during the holidays, but by January we're about sick of it.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in trumpery
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tawdry
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
Wolfe’s revival does justice to these contradictions: smart yet tawdry, high yet very low.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Starring a chilly Angelina Jolie as Callas, the film insists on depicting the larger-than-life singer as a sad, hollow woman facing a tawdry death.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
And one of the leading characters is this tawdry tale is another Can-UHN clown, state trooper Michael Proctor, currently under investigation by the Internal Affairs unit.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 22 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for tawdry
Adjective
The younger Biden had denied use of illicit drugs while filling out that form — a claim that was a lie, as some tawdry testimony at his trial made clear.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
Wolfe’s revival does justice to these contradictions: smart yet tawdry, high yet very low.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Starring a chilly Angelina Jolie as Callas, the film insists on depicting the larger-than-life singer as a sad, hollow woman facing a tawdry death.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
And one of the leading characters is this tawdry tale is another Can-UHN clown, state trooper Michael Proctor, currently under investigation by the Internal Affairs unit.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 22 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for tawdry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tawdry
Adjective
-
This is, on paper, a terrible idea for all involved.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
State of play: Cleveland is terrible at planting trees.—
Sam Allard,
Axios,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
What was the strategic benefit to the US of all this geopolitical trumpery?—
Peter Bergen,
CNN,
28 May 2022
-
So will the border continue to vanish in the face of nativist backlash and a trumpery, gimcrack wall?—
Felipe Fernández-Armesto,
WSJ,
25 June 2018
Adjective
-
This initiative helped avert potential global famines and boosted incomes for poor farmers, particularly in Asia.—
A.J. Russo,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Feb. 2025
-
But shortly after its release, AT&T dropped the device’s price down to just $0.99 in what was an unmistakable sign of poor sales – and perhaps an indication that consumers didn’t want more Facebook on their phone other than in its app.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s no sugarcoating it: Being sick can be miserable.—
Amy Panos,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Feb. 2025
-
The way McAvoy used his great stick and heavy body to make life miserable for Canadians, including his Bruins teammate, Brad Marchand.—
Michael Russo,
The Athletic,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
At first, Valentín shows no interest in Molina’s frippery, but once he gets started on his detailed narration of the loopy movie plot, the political prisoner begins eagerly requesting further installments.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
-
But who has time for all of that frippery, anyway, when war’s a-comin’?—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The unhinged reaction is proof the culture of the federal government workforce is rotten and needs dramatic transformation, not incremental change.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Still, power is power and the Albany Dems were getting ready to pass the rotten bill.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
To majorly commit, request everyone show up in tea-time finery—hats and all.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2025
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But for all its imperial finery and grandeur, the waltz was the people’s dance.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
While the private business wealth transfer is well over trillions of dollars, numerous startups are adding value for selling owners and prospective buyers that are cheaper and more efficient than a traditional broker and go beyond a standard classified ad posting.—
Rocio Wu,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
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Tickets for adults range from $42 for a day pass to $98 for three days, with cheaper prices for ages 13 and younger.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tawdry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tawdry. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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