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 Those gaudy numbers came on top of fast agility times. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025 The idea of stuffing a casino in a place already buzzing with hordes of tourists and gaudy lights made sense from afar. Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 17 Sep. 2025 The Tigers piled up gaudy stats Saturday. Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025 That gaudy slash line is almost solely responsible for Alcántara being the September call-up over top outfield prospect Owen Caissie. Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gaudy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaudy
Adjective
  • Calls for the United States to return astronauts to the moon before the end of the decade have been increasingly loud and frequent, emanating from bipartisan lawmakers and science advocates alike.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty’s field-goal attempt went off the right upright and made one of the loudest doinks of the season, creating a buzz among NFL fans on Sunday.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The boycott has been FWP’s noisiest campaign to date, attracting the support of stars, including Andrew Garfield, Omar Sy, and Olivia Colman.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Those reports came his way all the same, especially when William made a noisy 1782 return to London.
    Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Among the crowd, the look was also the opposite of many who attended wearing garish American flag costumes.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Meg lived in a somewhat offbeat district, but the tall shabby houses, some of them painted in garish colours, were soon left behind and gave place to discreetly glistening cream or white facades behind one of which Leonora lived.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Ultimately, the Red Sox did not make any big flashy trades during the season, but that could change this offseason.
    Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The Blackhawks were torn on whether to take the cowboy defenseman or the flashy forward with the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, and ultimately settled on Levshunov.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gaudy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaudy. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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