Showy
adjective
Something that is designed to be noticed, usually with bright colors or lots of decoration.
She wore a showy dress with lots of sequins to the party.
Often appears as...
- showy display
- showy dress
adjective
In nature, something that is bright and conspicuous to attract attention, usually refers to flowers.
The garden was filled with showy flowers that attracted lots of birds and butterflies.
Often appears as...
- showy flowers
- showy petals
adjective
Usually referring to people, showy describes someone who is ostentatious, making a great, pretentious display.
She is a showy character, always trying to grab the spotlight with her flashy outfits and loud behavior.
Often appears as...
- showy character
- showy behavior
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Something that is designed to be noticed, usually with bright colors or lots of decoration.
She wore a showy dress with lots of sequins to the party.
Often appears as...
- showy display
- showy dress
adjective
In nature, something that is bright and conspicuous to attract attention, usually refers to flowers.
The garden was filled with showy flowers that attracted lots of birds and butterflies.
Often appears as...
- showy flowers
- showy petals
adjective
Usually referring to people, showy describes someone who is ostentatious, making a great, pretentious display.
She is a showy character, always trying to grab the spotlight with her flashy outfits and loud behavior.
Often appears as...
- showy character
- showy behavior
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Attention Grabbing
Use 'showy' to describe things intended to stand out and draw attention in a crowd or setting.
The showy lights of the carnival could be seen from miles away.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Extravagant
'Showy' can imply something is more elaborate or fancy than necessary; sometimes over the top.
His showy watch was encrusted with diamonds.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive or Negative
Depending on context, 'showy' might be admired for being eye-catching or criticized for being excessive.
The showy decorations were perfect for the festive season.
Pro Tip 1/3Attention Grabbing
Use 'showy' to describe things intended to stand out and draw attention in a crowd or setting.
The showy lights of the carnival could be seen from miles away.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Extravagant
'Showy' can imply something is more elaborate or fancy than necessary; sometimes over the top.
His showy watch was encrusted with diamonds.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive or Negative
Depending on context, 'showy' might be admired for being eye-catching or criticized for being excessive.
The showy decorations were perfect for the festive season.
Pro Tip 1/3Attention Grabbing
Use 'showy' to describe things intended to stand out and draw attention in a crowd or setting.
The showy lights of the carnival could be seen from miles away.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Extravagant
'Showy' can imply something is more elaborate or fancy than necessary; sometimes over the top.
His showy watch was encrusted with diamonds.
Pro Tip 3/3Positive or Negative
Depending on context, 'showy' might be admired for being eye-catching or criticized for being excessive.
The showy decorations were perfect for the festive season.
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Video examples
Stephen Burt: Why people...
The sun comes up in the morning through branches, dispels the dew, the eyes, on the grass, and defeats stars envisioned as armies. "Brave" has its old sense of showy as well as its modern sense, courage. This sun is not afraid to show his face.
Video examples
How to Identify a Bull...
Nobody's going to mistake a white shark. This is a really iconic look. You have the torpedo shape, the tail, the bright white belly, slate gray above. The bull shark's looks aren't showy or iconic.
Video examples
Stephen Burt: Why people...
The sun comes up in the morning through branches, dispels the dew, the eyes, on the grass, and defeats stars envisioned as armies. "Brave" has its old sense of showy as well as its modern sense, courage. This sun is not afraid to show his face.
Video examples
How to Identify a Bull...
Nobody's going to mistake a white shark. This is a really iconic look. You have the torpedo shape, the tail, the bright white belly, slate gray above. The bull shark's looks aren't showy or iconic.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Jerry Saltz
American Critic
While a large segment of the art world has obsessed over a tiny number of stars and their prices, an aesthetic shift has been occurring. It's not a movement - movements are more sure of themselves. It's a change of mood or expectation, a desire for art to be more than showy effects, big numbers, and gamesmanship.
Quote examples
John Tyler
American President
Pleasure has ever more been represented by poets and by painters as clothed in perpetual smiles and adorned with the richest jewels; and in real life, we have known many who, allured by her deceptions, blandishments, and hollow but showy temptations, have followed as she pointed until ruin has befallen them.
Quote examples
Martha Wainwright
American Musician
I wanted to be heard myself, which is hard in a household of people who were very showy. It forced me to find myself and define a personality and a way of being different, and that's a thing that's going to help me to survive in a world of many people playing the guitar.
Quote examples
John Burroughs
American Author
The art of the bird is to conceal its nest both as to position and as to material, but now and then it is betrayed into weaving into its structure showy and bizarre bits of this or that, which give its secret away and which seem to violate all the traditions of its kind.
Quote examples
Jenny Zhang
Chinese Actress
The reader who likes my stories, I think they would see the violence on the surface, but I think they would also see a deeper violence - the one that's not as showy or as immediately arresting, but kind of the more unsolvable violence that lurks underneath.
Quote examples
Joshua Bell
American Musician
We like to categorize things into showy things and deep things, you know, and things that are high music - important music - and shallow music. And I think that's dangerous, because there's often a mix of both.
Quote examples
Gary Speed
Welsh Athlete
I don't like the showy nationalism - a tattoo, wrapping yourself in a flag - that doesn't matter to me. The way to show your patriotism and commitment is to go and support or play for your team.
Quote examples
Joel Osteen
American Clergyman
I want the services to look and sound like the Grammys. It's not showy, but we represent God, and it should be first class.
Quote examples
Wylie Dufresne
American Chef
Every dish doesn't have to be showy, and every dish doesn't have to slap you in the face with technique.
Quote examples
Peyton Hillis
American Athlete
I'm not a showy kind of player.
Quote examples
Jerry Saltz
American Critic
While a large segment of the art world has obsessed over a tiny number of stars and their prices, an aesthetic shift has been occurring. It's not a movement - movements are more sure of themselves. It's a change of mood or expectation, a desire for art to be more than showy effects, big numbers, and gamesmanship.
Quote examples
John Tyler
American President
Pleasure has ever more been represented by poets and by painters as clothed in perpetual smiles and adorned with the richest jewels; and in real life, we have known many who, allured by her deceptions, blandishments, and hollow but showy temptations, have followed as she pointed until ruin has befallen them.
Quote examples
Martha Wainwright
American Musician
I wanted to be heard myself, which is hard in a household of people who were very showy. It forced me to find myself and define a personality and a way of being different, and that's a thing that's going to help me to survive in a world of many people playing the guitar.
Quote examples
John Burroughs
American Author
The art of the bird is to conceal its nest both as to position and as to material, but now and then it is betrayed into weaving into its structure showy and bizarre bits of this or that, which give its secret away and which seem to violate all the traditions of its kind.
Quote examples
Jenny Zhang
Chinese Actress
The reader who likes my stories, I think they would see the violence on the surface, but I think they would also see a deeper violence - the one that's not as showy or as immediately arresting, but kind of the more unsolvable violence that lurks underneath.
Quote examples
Joshua Bell
American Musician
We like to categorize things into showy things and deep things, you know, and things that are high music - important music - and shallow music. And I think that's dangerous, because there's often a mix of both.
Quote examples
Gary Speed
Welsh Athlete
I don't like the showy nationalism - a tattoo, wrapping yourself in a flag - that doesn't matter to me. The way to show your patriotism and commitment is to go and support or play for your team.
Quote examples
Joel Osteen
American Clergyman
I want the services to look and sound like the Grammys. It's not showy, but we represent God, and it should be first class.
Quote examples
Wylie Dufresne
American Chef
Every dish doesn't have to be showy, and every dish doesn't have to slap you in the face with technique.
Quote examples
Peyton Hillis
American Athlete
I'm not a showy kind of player.
Example 1 of 10
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