Tom wants to build an ostentatious and smart house.
Source: tatoeba (1015921)
Ostentatious
/ˌɒs.tɛnˈteɪ.ʃəs/
Synonyms for "ostentatious" (224 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (45)
Adjective(13 words)
pretentiousbaroque stylebombasticbraggybrashceremonial actceremonial attireceremonial dutiesceremonial normsceremonialisticcolorfulconspicuousdandiest
Noun(9 words)
Strong matches (67)
Adjective(17 words)
Noun(10 words)
Related words (112)
high-tonedhigh-wroughthighfalutinhighfalutinginflatedinkhornjohnsonianlaboredlabyrinthinelexiphanicloftyloudluridluxuriantluxuriousmagniloquentmeretriciousmoresqueopulentornate
Show 39 more words
orotundoverdoneoverelaborateoverelegantoverinvolvedoverlaboredoverworkedoverwroughtpeacockishpeacockypedanticpicturesquepompouspreciouspretentiouspretty-prettyproudrhetoricalrichrococoself-conscioussensationalsensationalisticsententiousshowysolemnsonoroussplashystiltedstylishswanktalltheatricaltonytortuousvainvaingloriousvauntingvulgar
Adjective(19 words)
impressiveornamentalornamental vaseornate prosepharaonicpharaonic cultureplumedplushysciolisticshowiershowiestshowysnazziestsnazzysplashiersplashieststuffiestswankierupstarting
Noun(29 words)
mating displaymore ceremonialmost ceremonialmost ornamentaloveractingparadingparvenupeacockpimpingplushposturingprancingpublic displayregalingsashayingshowboatingshowoffspanglingstate regaliastrutting
Show 9 more words
Verb(5 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: pretentious, affected, ambitious, arabesque, attitudinized.
- Sentence evidence is available for ostentatious, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "ostentatious".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "ostentatious"
Keep "ostentatious" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "ostentatious" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "ostentatious", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "ostentatious" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesMore specific
4 entriesflashy attiregaudy displaygrandiose decorornate jewelry
Collocations
6 entriesostentatious architectureostentatious displayostentatious fashionostentatious gestureostentatious remarksostentatious wealth
Inflections
2 entriesmore ostentatiousmost ostentatious
Derivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
5 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
Sami loved to show off. He was a very ostentatious man.
Source: tatoeba (6687733)
He loved the ostentatious display of his wealth, less as a man to whom habit has made it necessary, than as one to whom it is still delightful from its novelty.
Source: tatoeba (7760622)
Over the course of the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin has drawn several “red lines” – with ostentatious references to Russia’s huge strategic nuclear arsenal – only to seemingly do nothing when these lines are crossed by Ukraine or its Western backers.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "ostentatious"?
Closest matches include pretentious, affected, ambitious, arabesque, attitudinized.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "ostentatious"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.