showy
Demanding visual attention
Showy describes things designed to attract attention through bright colors, elaborate decoration, or flashy display.
A showy dress or showy flowers catch the eye.
The word often carries a hint of disapproval—suggesting something is more impressive on the surface than in substance: His showy generosity masked deeper selfishness.
Exaggeratedly emotional for effect
- dramaticStrikingly expressive or sudden
- flashyShowy, often tastelessly so
- splashyOstentatiously eye-catching
- peacockingOstentatious self-display
glamorous · glitzy · bold · striking · attention-grabbing · eye-catching · ostentatious · exhibitionistic
Tastelessly showy
- tackyVulgar or slightly sticky
- kitschTasteless, garish art
- loudHigh in volume
- gaucheSocially awkward, unrefined
vulgar · tawdry · trashy · chintzy · brassy · cheap · overdone · tinsel
Abundant beyond necessity
- opulentOstentatiously wealthy
- luxuriousMarked by costly elegance
- sumptuousSplendidly rich and costly
- grandiosePretentiously impressive in scale
palatial · resplendent · magnificent · splendid · rich · plush · swanky · posh
Intensely clear and bright
- brightEmitting or reflecting light
- vibrantFull of life, intensity
- boldCourageous and daring
- saturatedThoroughly soaked through
brilliant · dazzling · radiant · luminous · glowing · intense · psychedelic · neon
For beauty, not function
- embellishedDecorated or exaggerated
- adornedMade ornamental
- elaborateComplex and detailed
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
filigree · gilded · bejeweled · embroidered · festooned · baroque · rococo · fanciful
Affectedly grand in manner
- vaingloriousBoastfully proud, ostentatiously so
- bombasticExcessively inflated language
- boastfulGiven to self-praise
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
self-important · arrogant · haughty · affected · pretentious · snobbish · highfalutin · grandiose
theatrical
Exaggeratedly emotional for effect
- dramaticStrikingly expressive or sudden
- flashyShowy, often tastelessly so
- splashyOstentatiously eye-catching
peacocking · glamorous · glitzy · bold · striking · attention-grabbing · eye-catching · ostentatious · exhibitionistic · swaggering
garish
Tastelessly showy
gauche · vulgar · tawdry · trashy · chintzy · brassy · cheap · overdone · tinsel · bling
lavish
Abundant beyond necessity
grandiose · palatial · resplendent · magnificent · splendid · rich · plush · swanky · posh · ritzy
vivid
Intensely clear and bright
saturated · brilliant · dazzling · radiant · luminous · glowing · intense · psychedelic · neon · kaleidoscopic
ornamental
For beauty, not function
- embellishedDecorated or exaggerated
- adornedMade ornamental
- elaborateComplex and detailed
intricate · filigree · gilded · bejeweled · embroidered · festooned · baroque · rococo · fanciful · lacy
pompous
Affectedly grand in manner
- vaingloriousBoastfully proud, ostentatiously so
- bombasticExcessively inflated language
- boastfulGiven to self-praise
conceited · self-important · arrogant · haughty · affected · pretentious · snobbish · highfalutin · grandiose · inflated
- flashyflamboyant, glitzy, gaudy, garish, ostentatious
- presentationaltheatrical, staged, dramatic, performative, posed
- dressed updressed up, dolled up, decked out, spruced up, gussied up
- eye-catchingstriking, conspicuous, noticeable, prominent, eye-catching
- ornateornate, elaborate, embellished, decorative, ornamental
- floral adjectivesfragrant, blooming, floral, flowery, petaled
showyplain
Basic and unremarkable
understated · inconspicuous · subdued · unobtrusive · muted
showyunpretentious
Lacking false superiority
unassuming · modest · unaffected · discreet · understated
- show upArrive or outperform
- showed upArrived at location
- TV showBroadcast episodic entertainment
- showing upArriving at a place
- show offBoast through display
- showing offOstentatious self-display
show, shown, showing, showed, showiness, unshowy, outshone, showily, showiest