Ostentatious
adjective
Flashy or showy to a point that it attracts attention. Sitting on the fence between being visually striking and overly decorated.
Her ostentatious jewelry was the talk of the party.
Often appears as...
- ostentatious display
- ostentatious wealth
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Intentionally attracting attention or showy.
He is known for his ostentatious lifestyle.
Often appears as...
- ostentatious showing
- ostentatious behavior
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Flashy or showy to a point that it attracts attention. Sitting on the fence between being visually striking and overly decorated.
Her ostentatious jewelry was the talk of the party.
Often appears as...
- ostentatious display
- ostentatious wealth
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Intentionally attracting attention or showy.
He is known for his ostentatious lifestyle.
Often appears as...
- ostentatious showing
- ostentatious behavior
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Social Implications
Using 'ostentatious' often implies disapproval, suggesting unnecessary excess.
Their ostentatious wedding angered the simple townsfolk.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Impact
Describes things that visually stand out, often with negative undertones of being too much.
The ostentatious decorations overshadowed the modest ceremony.
Pro Tip 3/3Wealth Association
Frequently used to describe displays of wealth, suggesting superficiality or vulgarity.
His ostentatious spending habits did not impress his frugal friends.
Pro Tip 1/3Social Implications
Using 'ostentatious' often implies disapproval, suggesting unnecessary excess.
Their ostentatious wedding angered the simple townsfolk.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Impact
Describes things that visually stand out, often with negative undertones of being too much.
The ostentatious decorations overshadowed the modest ceremony.
Pro Tip 3/3Wealth Association
Frequently used to describe displays of wealth, suggesting superficiality or vulgarity.
His ostentatious spending habits did not impress his frugal friends.
Pro Tip 1/3Social Implications
Using 'ostentatious' often implies disapproval, suggesting unnecessary excess.
Their ostentatious wedding angered the simple townsfolk.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Impact
Describes things that visually stand out, often with negative undertones of being too much.
The ostentatious decorations overshadowed the modest ceremony.
Pro Tip 3/3Wealth Association
Frequently used to describe displays of wealth, suggesting superficiality or vulgarity.
His ostentatious spending habits did not impress his frugal friends.
Compare with
bombasticbrashexcessiveextravagantflamboyanceflashygaudygrandiosepretentiousshowy
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Video examples
Corruption, wealth and...
from utilitarian rafts to the Doge's own ostentatious gilded barge. Like a modern day taxi system, gondolas were leased to boatmen who made the rounds of the city's ferry stations. Passengers paid a fare to be carried from one side of the Grand Canal to the other, as well as to other points around the city.
Video examples
Tim Laman & Ed Scholes:...
females look very different than the males they are brown much more subtly colored not nearly as an ostentatious or exaggerated but females play a very important role in the evolution of birds-of-paradise this is the courtship display area of a
Video examples
Nature's Greatest...
everything about these ostentatious birds has been fashioned by countless generations of difficult to please hens
Video examples
Corruption, wealth and...
from utilitarian rafts to the Doge's own ostentatious gilded barge. Like a modern day taxi system, gondolas were leased to boatmen who made the rounds of the city's ferry stations. Passengers paid a fare to be carried from one side of the Grand Canal to the other, as well as to other points around the city.
Video examples
Tim Laman & Ed Scholes:...
females look very different than the males they are brown much more subtly colored not nearly as an ostentatious or exaggerated but females play a very important role in the evolution of birds-of-paradise this is the courtship display area of a
Video examples
Nature's Greatest...
everything about these ostentatious birds has been fashioned by countless generations of difficult to please hens
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Adam Gopnik
American Writer
There are as many attitudes to cooking as there are people cooking, of course, but I do think that cooking guys tend - I am a guilty party here - to take, or get, undue credit for domestic virtue, when in truth cooking is the most painless and, in its ways, ostentatious of the domestic chores.
Quote examples
Roger Deakins
English Director
There's nothing worse than an ostentatious shot. Or some lighting that draws attention to itself, and you might go, 'Oh, wow, that's spectacular.' Or that spectacular shot, a big crane move, or something.
Quote examples
Rick Perlstein
American Historian
For conservative leaders, making candidates pay them court, publicly and ostentatiously, is a colossal source of their symbolic power before their followers. It's kabuki theater, mostly.
Quote examples
Neill Blomkamp
South African Director
A lot of parts of L.A. are interchangeable with suburbs in Joburg. Very big, ostentatious houses with palm trees and lawns. Lawns are very important. Never underestimate lawns.
Quote examples
Imelda Marcos
Celebrity
They've listed my name in the dictionary - 'Imeldific' is used to mean ostentatious extravagance... But the truth will prevail.
Quote examples
Rei Kawakubo
Japanese Designer
I built my work from within instead of satisfying a demand for sexualised and ostentatious clothing.
Quote examples
Masaba Gupta
Indian Designer
Once upon a time, fashion was complex, and ostentatious was considered better.
Quote examples
Albert Einstein
German Physicist
As far as I'm concerned, I prefer silent vice to ostentatious virtue.
Quote examples
Tite
Brazilian Coach
I can't show false humility, nor be overly proud and ostentatious.
Quote examples
George S. Patton
American General
Do your damnedest in an ostentatious manner all the time.
Quote examples
Adam Gopnik
American Writer
There are as many attitudes to cooking as there are people cooking, of course, but I do think that cooking guys tend - I am a guilty party here - to take, or get, undue credit for domestic virtue, when in truth cooking is the most painless and, in its ways, ostentatious of the domestic chores.
Quote examples
Roger Deakins
English Director
There's nothing worse than an ostentatious shot. Or some lighting that draws attention to itself, and you might go, 'Oh, wow, that's spectacular.' Or that spectacular shot, a big crane move, or something.
Quote examples
Rick Perlstein
American Historian
For conservative leaders, making candidates pay them court, publicly and ostentatiously, is a colossal source of their symbolic power before their followers. It's kabuki theater, mostly.
Quote examples
Neill Blomkamp
South African Director
A lot of parts of L.A. are interchangeable with suburbs in Joburg. Very big, ostentatious houses with palm trees and lawns. Lawns are very important. Never underestimate lawns.
Quote examples
Imelda Marcos
Celebrity
They've listed my name in the dictionary - 'Imeldific' is used to mean ostentatious extravagance... But the truth will prevail.
Quote examples
Rei Kawakubo
Japanese Designer
I built my work from within instead of satisfying a demand for sexualised and ostentatious clothing.
Quote examples
Masaba Gupta
Indian Designer
Once upon a time, fashion was complex, and ostentatious was considered better.
Quote examples
Albert Einstein
German Physicist
As far as I'm concerned, I prefer silent vice to ostentatious virtue.
Quote examples
Tite
Brazilian Coach
I can't show false humility, nor be overly proud and ostentatious.
Quote examples
George S. Patton
American General
Do your damnedest in an ostentatious manner all the time.
Example 1 of 10
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