First Known Use: 1673
Dictionary
ostentatious
adjective os·ten·ta·tious \ˌäs-tən-ˈtā-shəs\
: displaying wealth, knowledge, etc., in a way that is meant to attract attention, admiration, or envy
Full Definition of OSTENTATIOUS
: marked by or fond of conspicuous or vainglorious and sometimes pretentious display
— os·ten·ta·tious·ly adverb
— os·ten·ta·tious·ness noun
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Examples of OSTENTATIOUS
- The power of the government was present, in its watchmen, supervisors of the market and police force, but it did not express itself in large and ostentatious buildings. —Albert Hourani, A History of the Arab Peoples, 1991
- That pompous excuse for a plush ride is a thumb in the eye to every taxpayer—and in the case of an ostentatious cost-cutter, genuine hypocrisy. —William Safire, New York Times, 2 May 1991
- Always proud to sit down with an ice-cold beer in my hand, I was ostentatious about it in town. —Mark Helprin, New Yorker, 30 May 1988
- She had driven to Prague from the Netherlands in her Porsche, telling friends she didn't give a hoot how ostentatious she might appear to the comrades. —Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 4 Aug. 1986
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Origin of OSTENTATIOUS
(see ostentation)
Related to OSTENTATIOUS
- Synonyms
- flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, glitzy, loud, noisy, gaudy, razzle-dazzle, splashy, swank (or swanky)
- Antonyms
- conservative, quiet, understated, unflamboyant, unflashy
Synonym Discussion of OSTENTATIOUS
showy, pretentious, ostentatious mean given to excessive outward display. showy implies an imposing or striking appearance but usually suggests cheapness or poor taste <the performers' showy costumes>. pretentious implies an appearance of importance not justified by the thing's value or the person's standing <a pretentious parade of hard words>. ostentatious stresses vainglorious display or parade <the ostentatious summer homes of the rich>.
Rhymes with OSTENTATIOUS
OSTENTATIOUS Defined for Kids
ostentatious
adjective os·ten·ta·tious \ˌä-stən-ˈtā-shəs\
Definition of OSTENTATIOUS for Kids
: attracting or fond of attracting attention by showing off wealth or cleverness <They lived in a huge, ostentatious house.>
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