Meaning & use
gaudy
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Meaning
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Too bright, flashy or decorated, in a way that looks cheap and shows poor taste.
Grammar: Can come before a noun or after a linking verb: a gaudy tie; the room looked gaudy.
Patterns
- gaudy with something
- gaudy in color
She wore a gaudy necklace with huge plastic jewels.
The hotel lobby was gaudy, with gold paint on every surface.
He hung gaudy lights across the whole front of the house.
Word forms
| comparative | gaudier |
|---|---|
| superlative | gaudiest |
Common combinations
- gaudy colors
- The toy was painted in gaudy colors that hurt the eyes.
- gaudy jewelry
- She never wears gaudy jewelry, only a plain silver ring.
- gaudy decorations
- The shop window was crowded with gaudy decorations.
- gaudy display
- The casino put on a gaudy display of neon lights.
- a gaudy outfit
- He turned up to the funeral in a gaudy outfit and everyone stared.
Synonyms and how they differ
- garish
- Is almost identical but stresses harsh, glaring brightness, while gaudy stresses cheap, showy decoration.
- flashy
- Is more casual and can even be admiring, whereas gaudy is always a criticism.
- tacky
- Is more informal and suggests cheapness or vulgarity without necessarily implying bright color.
- loud
- Is a mild, conversational word for clothes or colors that are too bold, less harsh than gaudy.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: gaudy or gory?
gaudy vs gory
Gory means involving blood and violence, while gaudy is about showy, tasteless decoration.
Practice
Which word best describes a room painted in clashing neon colors and covered in cheap gold decorations?
Choose one answer.
Gaudy means showy in a tasteless way. Elegant is the opposite, and plain and spacious say nothing about excessive decoration.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gaudy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.