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Meaning & use

garish

adjective·Academicdisapproving

Last updated

UK/ˈɡeərɪʃ/
US/ˈɡerɪʃ/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Too bright, loud, or flashy to be pleasant.

    Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: a garish tie, the shirt looked garish.

    Patterns

    • garish colors
    • look garish

    The hotel lobby was decorated in garish gold and purple.

    He wore a garish orange suit to the wedding.

    The posters were too garish for a quiet library.

  2. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Showy in a way that seems cheap or in poor taste.

    Grammar: Applies to more than color: garish decorations.

    Patterns

    • garish display

    The casino's garish signs lit the whole street.

    Critics found the theater's garish decor distracting.

    Her garish jewelry drew stares.

Word forms

comparativemore garish
superlativemost garish

Common combinations

garish colors
The room was painted in garish colors.
garish lights
Garish lights flashed over the arcade.
garish decor
The garish decor made the diner hard to ignore.
garish outfit
His garish outfit stood out at the funeral.
garish display
The shop window was a garish display of plastic toys.

Synonyms and how they differ

gaudy
Gaudy is almost the same but is slightly more about cheap ornament, while garish is about glaring brightness.
flashy
Flashy is milder and can be admiring, while garish is always critical.
loud
Loud is informal and covers sound too, whereas garish refers to visual excess.
tacky
Tacky is casual and means in poor taste, with less focus on brightness.

Opposites

subduedtastefulunderstated

Word family

garishly adverb
in a glaringly bright way
garishness noun
the quality of being too bright and showy

Commonly confused: garish or gaudy? garish or garnish?

garish vs gaudy

Gaudy is a close cousin and often interchangeable, with an emphasis on cheap decoration.

garish vs garnish

A garnish is a small decoration added to food. It is unrelated in meaning.

Practice

The tourist shop's ____ neon signs clashed with the quiet old street.

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