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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 Actually, not necessarily so and an ostentatious display of a selection of five new electric vehicles parked in front of the South Portico of the White House improperly mixed the fortunes of Elon Musk and his auto manufacturer with the government. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025 The most ostentatious resemble small churches or even condo-style apartments with air conditioning, TVs and couches where families can comfortably spend time together. Keegan Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025 Cyrus’s early solo-music career was marked by chaos in both persona and output (remember Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz?); her style oscillated with an ostentatious lack of taste, and her music varied wildly between genres. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025 The question is whether the Oscars can simultaneously indulge in its usual ostentatious glitz. Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ostentatious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostentatious
Adjective
  • In a nutshell, this Mango crossbody is trendy without being loud: a balance that will serve you well, especially when paired with a maxi skirt, white sneakers, and a transitional-weather cashmere sweater almost as soft as the item itself.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The sigh of relief heard on Wall Street was almost as loud on Capitol Hill, where GOP lawmakers let out a collective exhale.
    Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Ava Daniels is a young comedy writer who is unable to find work due to an insensitive tweet and her reputation for being self-centered and arrogant.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • And the villains, of course, exuding every nastily relatable emotion; the stepmothers and sorceresses are vain, arrogant, dismissive, lonely, rude, and outrageous.
    Darren Franich, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Like any good house party, as many high schoolers can attest, the scene was a little chaotic, noisy and free flowing, in more ways than one.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Young planets orbit young stars, and young stars tend to be very noisy, which makes extracting the signals of their young planets all the more difficult.
    Victoria Corless, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Nithyananda was also grandiose, linking himself to long religious and royal lineages.
    Mujib Mashal, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Incorporate grandiose accents like opulent chandeliers, old-world upholstery, and ornate picture frames.
    Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Princess Diana and then Prince Charles tied the knot in an extravagant ceremony on July 29, 1981.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Abbott Elementary is experiencing quite the shake up after Ava (Janelle James) was fired last week when the district uncovered that the school had been extorting the nearby golf course for extravagant resources.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Buckle up for this globe-trotting, CGI-heavy adventure that combines apocalyptic spectacle and family drama in the least pretentious way possible.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Jimbo, the most ridiculously pretentious egomaniac in rock-star history, seemed so excessive that no actor could play him, but Val Kilmer was up to the task.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • While wearing gaudy lime green T-shirts, neon ties sprouting shamrocks with Gaelic sayings, or singing catchy, sentimental tunes, many people also enjoy an Americanized version of the Celtic culture for a day, whether Irish or not.
    Maureen Murphy, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Instead of orange-leaning oak cabinets with gaudy gold hardware, opt for wood materials such as white oak or pine, clean-lines, and sleek hardware.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Nelis renders the professor a pompous and pedantic twit but not a heartless one.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Basden could have slicked up his acting with a lot of pompous pop star clichés.
    Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ostentatious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostentatious. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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