gaudy

adjective

ˈgȯ-dē How to pronounce gaudy (audio)
Definition of gaudynext
as in loud
excessively showy gaudy decorations on all the doors and windows at festival time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gaudy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gaudy are flashy, garish, meretricious, and tawdry. While all these words mean "vulgarly or cheaply showy," gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation.

circus performers in gaudy costumes

When could flashy be used to replace gaudy?

The words flashy and gaudy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar.

a flashy nightclub act

When is garish a more appropriate choice than gaudy?

While in some cases nearly identical to gaudy, garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright.

garish neon signs

Where would meretricious be a reasonable alternative to gaudy?

The synonyms meretricious and gaudy 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 is it sensible to use tawdry instead of gaudy?

In some situations, the words tawdry and gaudy 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 gaudy Though his numbers aren't gaudy with only three career regular-season interceptions and one in the postseason, Gonzalez is a critical piece of the New England defense. — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 Investors, though, decided those gaudy numbers weren’t enough. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 Annese has a similar track record, compiling gaudy win-loss numbers at high school and junior college programs before getting a head coaching gig at Division II Ferris State. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 The crafty wolf often relies on gaudy disguises to accomplish his schemes. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gaudy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaudy
  1. loud
  2. noisy
  3. garish
  4. flashy
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
  • 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 result, beyond being a lie, is often cheap, garish, and conspicuous.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Other architectural highlights of SLO included a walkthrough of the garish and ornate Madonna Inn, a Disneyland-esque hotel and restaurant.
    — David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of garish
Adjective
  • Postwar Hiroshima was a popular setting for these movie gangsters, who fought dirty, had no use for the old ceremonies, and wore flashy suits and aviator shades.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • These are the sort of family haulers buyers tend to cross-shop for rather than fall blindly in love with, so styling and a flashy cabin alone won't cut it.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of flashy

Browse Nearby Words

gauds
gaudy
gauge
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Cite this Entry

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

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