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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

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 ostentatious The somewhat muted display represented Lamar at his most physically ostentatious. Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025 Sure, its plumage may not be as big or ostentatious as the peacock’s – though, to be fair, ostentatiousness is an important quality as these feathers have evolved to capture the attention of potential mates. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025 In short, an ostentatious action game with a fascinating setting and stunning visuals. Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025 And for Trump’s onetime pirate ship of a political movement, Butterworth’s represents an ostentatious new evolutionary phase: the deplorable as arriviste. Robert Draper, New York Times, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ostentatious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostentatious
Adjective
  • The brands that stand out aren’t louder—they’re the ones willing to hand something over.
    Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Attempt to frighten away coyotes by making loud noises (e.g., shouting, air horn) and acting aggressively (e.g., waving your arms, throwing sticks, spraying with a hose).
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • As the day goes on, Jim goes from a caricature of an arrogant male director to an oddly compelling picture of a pathetic man, moved by spite toward his ex-wife, Anita.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 July 2025
  • Actor Tyler Hilton played Chris Keller, a charming but arrogant musician, on four seasons of the teen soap.
    Bryan West, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • The world is crowded, noisy, and sometimes hostile.
    F. Willis Johnson, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025
  • The negatives included noisy wheels and some faulty stitching.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • While the grandiose gestures may seem romantic and well-intentioned, love bombing is almost always followed by devaluation and criticism.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 July 2025
  • In Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, collective or cooperative land reforms—less grandiose and more grassroots than the Soviet or Chinese variants—brought substantive and lasting social change.
    Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Per the logline, gaining access to the yacht’s extravagant amenities won’t be so simple.
    Peter White, Deadline, 14 July 2025
  • Ra’s decades-long adherence to this personal mythology, along with his air of serene bemusement and his extravagant robes and headdresses, led to his popular image as a colorful eccentric.
    Ekow Eshun July 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Even when Season Three felt meandering or pretentious, the vibe set by the music and the production design never faltered.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2025
  • My book recommendations are uncommon, but not pretentious.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • At the time, unnatural hair color was considered gaudy, a threat to the beloved ingenue aesthetic boasted by female stars such as Audrey Hepburn.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
  • But Oklahoma City engulfs basketball’s gaudiest attacks not in spite of its hacking but because of it.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • As pompous actor Garry, Nehal Joshi aces the tough task of making his character’s halting, inarticulate speech sound authentic.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
  • And more than any other animal, cats represented to her its moral antithesis: lazy, pompous, interested only in themselves.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ostentatious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostentatious. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ostentatious

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