brummagem

Gaudy but worthless

Brummagem means cheap, showy, and counterfeit—flashy goods that look valuable but aren't.

The word comes from a dialect pronunciation of Birmingham, England, once notorious for producing shoddy imitations of fine metalwork.

It works as noun or adjective: brummagem jewelry, The whole operation was brummagem from top to bottom.

tawdry

gaudy

Tastelessly ornate

  • flashyShowy, often tastelessly so
  • garishTastelessly showy
  • showyExcessively eye-catching

ostentatious · vulgar · loud · tacky · cheap · trashy · glitzy · kitschy · meretricious · tinsel

counterfeit

fake

Not the real thing

  • forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
  • phonyFraudulent person or thing
  • shamFraudulent imitation

bogus · spurious · fraudulent · knockoff · pseudo · ersatz · imitation · replica · faux · simulated

worthless

trumpery

Showy nonsense or trinkets

  • fripperyShowy, worthless adornment
  • kitschTasteless, garish art
  • junkWorthless discarded items

trash · rubbish · dross · schlock · bric-a-brac · tchotchke · knickknack · falderal · folderol · gimcrack

Opposites
authenticity/genuineness

brummagemgenuine

Truly what it claims

authentic · real · bona fide · legitimate · true

quality/value

brummagemquality

Standard or attribute

first-rate · fine · superior · excellent · premium

aesthetic taste

brummagemtasteful

Aesthetically appropriate and pleasing

elegant · refined · understated · sophisticated · classy

Family

Birmingham, Brummie

Familiarity
Top 2,000,000
Profile
Timeless · Negative · Rated G