View synonyms for gaudy

gaudy

[ gaw-dee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

gaudier, gaudiest.

brilliantly or excessively showy:
gaudy plumage.
cheaply showy in a tasteless way; flashy.
Synonyms: obvious, conspicuous, loud, tawdry
Antonyms: sober, modest
ostentatiously ornamented; garish.

gaudy

[ gaw-dee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

British.

plural gaudies.

a festival or celebration, especially an annual college feast.

gaudy

/ ˈɡɔːdɪ /

adjective

gay, bright, or colourful in a crude or vulgar manner; garish

gaudy

/ ˈɡɔːdɪ /

noun

a celebratory festival or feast held at some schools and colleges

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Derived Forms

ˈgaudiness, noun
ˈgaudily, adverb

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Other Words From

gaud·i·ly adverb
gaud·i·ness noun
un·gaud·i·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of gaudy¹

First recorded in 1520–30; originally attributive use of gaudy ²( def ); later taken as a derivative of gaud ( def )

Origin of gaudy²

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin gaudium joy, delight

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Word History and Origins

Origin of gaudy¹

C16: from gaud

Origin of gaudy²

C16: from Latin gaudium joy, from gaudēre to rejoice

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Synonym Study

Gaudy, flashy, garish, showy agree in the idea of conspicuousness and, often, bad taste. That which is gaudy challenges the eye, as by brilliant colors or evident cost, and is not in good taste: a gaudy hat. Flashy suggests insistent and vulgar display, in rather a sporty manner: a flashy necktie. Garish suggests a glaring brightness, or crude vividness of color, and too much ornamentation: garish decorations. Showy applies to that which is strikingly conspicuous, but not necessarily offensive to good taste: a garden of showy flowers; a showy dress.

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Example Sentences

Photos showed one suspect wearing a gaudy necklace with Burrow’s No. 9 jersey number.

From Los Angeles Times

The Dodgers’ monstrous revenue streams — which have only grown more flush with the arrival of Ohtani — have helped with that too, giving them more cash to burn on gaudy signing bonuses.

From Los Angeles Times

The loser, unbelievably, has to turn right around and hit the road as a wild-card team with an incredibly gaudy record.

From Los Angeles Times

Now these days, as Heather "Digby" Parton wrote Friday, "Trump is just an old guy playing golf and holding court at his gaudy beach club in Palm Beach every night."

From Salon

The memes had already taken hold: Elon Musk is the actual president and Trump is just an old guy playing golf and holding court at his gaudy beach club in Palm Beach every night.

From Salon

Related Words

gaudiness gauffer

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