This showy dress isn't appropriate for me.
Source: tatoeba (57533)
Showy
/ˈʃəʊ.i/
Synonyms for "showy" (275 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (55)
Adjective(18 words)
flamboyantflashygaudyarty designboisterous displaybold tacticbraggybrassiestcampyceremonial actceremonial actionceremonial urnceremonialisticcolorfulcolourfulconspicuous cuedandierdecorative designs
affectedarabesquearrogantbarbaricbaroquebedizenedbig-soundingbravebravurabrawbyzantinecampchichicolorfulconspicuousconvoluteddapperdaringdashingdeclamatory
Show 1 more word
Verb(5 words)
Noun(11 words)
Strong matches (83)
dressyelaborateelevatedeuphuisticexhibitionisticextravagantfancyflamboyantflamingflashflashingflashyflauntingfloridfloweryfrillyfrothyfulsomefussygallant
Show 18 more words
Adjective(23 words)
Noun(11 words)
emblazoningfashion showflambeflashflexingflimflammingflouncinggaudy ornamentgiltgoldbrickgrandstanding
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (137)
Noun(33 words)
hotshotmating displaymore ornamentalmost ornamentalornamental qualityparadingparvenupeacockperformativepimpingplushposturingpowderpuffprancingprimpingpublic displayrachetsashayingshowboatingshowoff
Adjective(41 words)
impressivejazziestjazzyloudornamentalornamental featureornamental motifornamental objectornamental seedlingsornate designornate proseostentatiousoversized paisleyplushyposhpretentiouspretentious dictionprovocativepyrotechnicraffish
Show 21 more words
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: flamboyant, flashy, gaudy, affected, arabesque.
- Sentence evidence is available for showy, 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 "showy".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "showy"
Keep "showy" 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 "showy" 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 "showy", 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 "showy" 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
2 entriesdescriptive termqualitative attribute
More specific
3 entriesgaudy colorslavish gestureostentatious display
Collocations
6 entriesshowy colorsshowy decorationsshowy displayshowy dressshowy gestureshowy outfit
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
6 entriesTranslations
44 translations across 17 languages.
Bulgarian
2 entries- ефектен adj (for show)
- показен adj (for show)
Chinese Mandarin
2 entries- 浮華 /浮华 adj (for show)
- 繁华 adj (for show)
Czech
1 entries- nápadný adj (for show)
Dutch
1 entries- opzichtig adj (for show)
Finnish
2 entries- näyttävä adj (for show)
- pramea adj (for show)
French
1 entries- tape-à-l’œil adj (for show)
Galician
1 entries- ostentoso adj (for show)
German
4 entries- auffällig adj (for show)
- grell adj (for show)
- protzig adj (for show)
- schreiend adj (for show)
Irish
2 entries- taibhseach adj (for show)
- éagsúil adj (for show)
Japanese
2 entries- けばけばしい adj (for show)
- 派手な adj (for show)
Macedonian
4 entries- бе́звкусен adj (for show)
- впе́чатлив adj (for show)
- дре́члив adj (for show)
- е́фектен adj (for show)
Persian
1 entries- خودنما adj (for show)
Polish
1 entries- na pokaz adj (for show)
Portuguese
2 entries- exibido adj (for show)
- mirabolante adj (for show)
Russian
4 entries- безвку́сный adj (for show)
- впечатля́ющий adj (for show)
- крича́щий adj (for show)
- на пока́з adj (for show)
Spanish
4 entries- aparatoso adj (for show)
- de relumbrón adj (for show)
- fardón adj (for show)
- jactancioso adj (for show)
Tagalog
2 entries- hambog adj (for show)
- mapagyabang adj (for show)
Sample sentences
16 total sentences available.
Since he's in show business he often goofs around in a showy way, but once in a while he has these bashful mannerisms that are really cute.
Source: tatoeba (295770)
I have no cell phone, no showy photos, no funny personality. Just medicaments.
Source: tatoeba (1695386)
I like showy clothes.
Source: tatoeba (3603482)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "showy"?
Closest matches include flamboyant, flashy, gaudy, affected, arabesque.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "showy"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.