garish
12 synonyms and 3 antonyms for garish, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Unpleasantly bright or showy, in a tasteless way.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use garish
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
garish colours
garish outfit
garish lighting
Etymology
Unknown, possibly from obsolete Middle English gawren (“to stare”) which is of uncertain origin, probably from Old Norse gá (“to watch, heed”) or gaurr (“rough fellow”) (Proto-Indo-European *gʰow-rós, from *gʰew- (“to be angry”)). Compare with English gaw.
Full origin of garish →Frequently asked questions
What does “garish” mean?
The word “garish” means unpleasantly bright or showy, in a tasteless way. In plain terms, too bright, flashy, or over-decorated to look tasteful.
How do you pronounce “garish”?
“Garish” is pronounced GEH-uh-rihsh (/ˈɡɛəɹɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “garish” in a sentence?
Here is “garish” used in a sentence: “The hotel lobby was decorated in garish neon colours.”
What part of speech is “garish”?
“Garish” is an adjective.
