FLASHY Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'flashy' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of flashy are garish , gaudy , meretricious , and tawdry . While all these words mean "vulgarly or cheaply showy," flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar. // a flashy nightclub act

Q: When can 'garish' be used instead of 'flashy'?

Although the words garish and flashy have much in common, garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright. // garish neon signs

Q: When is it sensible to use 'gaudy' instead of 'flashy'?

The meanings of gaudy and flashy largely overlap; however, gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation. // circus performers in gaudy costumes

Q: When might 'meretricious' be a better fit than 'flashy'?

The synonyms meretricious and flashy are sometimes interchangeable, but meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise. // a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars

Q: When would 'tawdry' be a good substitute for 'flashy'?

In some situations, the words tawdry and flashy are roughly equivalent. However, tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy. // tawdry saloons

flashy

adjective

ˈfla-shē

Definition of flashy

as in stylish

attractively eye-catching in style I bought a flashy new car as soon as I got my first paycheck

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in loud

excessively showy wore flashy rings on almost all the fingers of his left hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective flashy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of flashy are garish, gaudy, meretricious, and tawdry. While all these words mean "vulgarly or cheaply showy," flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar.

a flashy nightclub act

When can garish be used instead of flashy?

Although the words garish and flashy have much in common, garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright.

garish neon signs

When is it sensible to use gaudy instead of flashy?

The meanings of gaudy and flashy largely overlap; however, gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation.

circus performers in gaudy costumes

When might meretricious be a better fit than flashy?

The synonyms meretricious and flashy are sometimes interchangeable, but meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise.

a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars

When would tawdry be a good substitute for flashy?

In some situations, the words tawdry and flashy are roughly equivalent. However, tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy.

tawdry saloons

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of flashy The less flashy growth engine for WSM is its business-to-business segment. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 There’s no flashy design and no over-the-top exterior, instead muted hues and lots of marble. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 Verstappen eventually left his rental for a much flashier address elsewhere in Monaco. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2026 Inspired by Parton’s iconic flashy feminine style, Musgraves wore a formfitting hot-pink sparkly dress with feather trimming, silver hoop earrings, and purple eye shadow. — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flashy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flashy

Adjective

This fully electric, ultra-compact quadricycle is designed for short urban trips—like zipping down to the shops in a golf cart, but more stylish—offering a simpler alternative to traditional cars.

— Lauryn Higgins, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
In 2025, The Jay hotel in San Francisco teamed up with The Namesake, transforming a section of The Jay’s stylish Third Floor into an exclusive design studio.

— Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of stylish

Adjective

Where the movies are big, loud, overpopulated machines, the TV series are full of interesting ideas, weird notions and good comedy and give their characters room to breathe.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
The doors finally open Store Manager Patrick McGuinness welcomed customers pushing their shopping carts into the store while leading loud chants, such as spelling out Wegmans letter by letter.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of loud

Adjective

On the plus side, the new snazzy ship has made Le Lyrial more affordable in comparison.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Danny Boyle adopts a similar strategy with this snazzy screen adaptation, shot through with kinetic energy, convulsive editing and a liberal sprinkling of post-punk, electro-pop and indie rock that thumbs its nose at period accuracy.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of snazzy

Adjective

The focus was how AI can be integrated and optimize the existing business – rather than presentation of noisy (and controversial) slates of AI TV shows and movies.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Kerry McCoy’s guitar juices up a mid-song gallop by abruptly pivoting from big and noisy to compressed and snarling; at the climax, everything cuts out for a second to spotlight a Daniel Tracy drum fill.

— Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of noisy

Adjective

The Marché des Enfants Rouges, tucked away on Rue de Bretagne in the fashionable Marais neighborhood, is the oldest covered food market in Paris and a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

— Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
Many of them were designed with a specific activity in mind, like hiking or running, and the fashionable crowd adopted them as outfit enhancers.

— Renata Joffre, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of fashionable

Adjective

Five years ago, LSU brought Kim Mulkey in to resuscitate its women’s basketball program, ignoring the controversy that trailed her like a train of sequins off one of her gaudy pantsuits.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Each followed the social media account of a 35-year-old former Dartmouth College running back with a degree in economics and a gaudy ring on his finger.

— Mike Sando, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of gaudy

Adjective

Sober Companion launches on BBC Sounds next month, joining a raft of splashy audio dramas including Richard Curtis’ Greatest Living Writer starring Bill Nighy.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
The weak start came despite the critical and commercial success of its predecessor; an all-star cast led by Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, and Jeremy Strong, and a splashy marketing campaign.

— Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of splashy

Adjective

The deals come in the wake of a glitzy premiere for the series at MIPCOM in Cannes.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Korean star Han Ji-min accepted The Hollywood Reporter’s Trailblazer Award at a glitzy gala high above Busan on Wednesday night, promising that her creative journey was only just beginning.

— Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of glitzy

Browse Nearby Words

flash points

flashy

flask

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“Flashy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flashy. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of flashy

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