flashy

adjective

ˈfla-shē How to pronounce flashy (audio)
flashier; flashiest
Synonyms of flashynext
1
: momentarily dazzling
2
a
: superficially attractive or impressive
… moving beyond the glitz and pizzazz of the flashy technology to teach true literacy …—Barbara Jones-Kavalier and Suzanne Flannigan
b
: ostentatious or showy often beyond the bounds of good taste
driving around in flashy cars
especially : marked by gaudy brightness
flashy colors
3
chiefly dialectal : lacking in substance or flavor : insipid
flashily
ˈfla-shə-lē How to pronounce flashy (audio)
adverb
flashiness
ˈfla-shē-nəs How to pronounce flashy (audio)
noun

Synonyms of flashy

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gaudy, tawdry, garish, flashy, meretricious mean vulgarly or cheaply showy.

gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation.

circus performers in gaudy costumes

tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy.

tawdry saloons

garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright.

garish neon signs

flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar.

a flashy nightclub act

meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise.

a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars

Examples of flashy in a Sentence

rich young men who drive flashy cars I bought the CD primarily for its flashy cover design.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In the eyes of rival executives, Moreno opted for the flashy purchase over steady, incremental expenditures. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Midway through the episode, Issa manages to distract it outside with some flashy jewelry, but a possum quickly wanders in when the door is left open too long. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 Those questions may not be as flashy as a school's ranking or acceptance rate. — Jason St. Angelo, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 The band's social presence, while not flashy, has stayed consistent across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and its website, anchored by a pre-save link for the album and steady single rollout content. — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flashy

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of flashy was in 1593

Rhymes for flashy

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Browse Nearby Words

flash welding
flashy
flask
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Cite this Entry

“Flashy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flashy. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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