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)

First Known Use: 1673

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>.