gaudy
45 synonyms and 1 antonym for gaudy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Showy or overdecorated to the point of looking cheap or tasteless.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
bedizened
blingish
brash
campy
catchpenny
chichi
corny
chintzy
crass
flaunting
florid
flossy
froufrou
gauche
gussied up
kitsch
meretricious
naff
obtrusive
ostentatious
pizazzy
ritzy
pretentious
raffish
schlocky
showy
snazzy
splendiferous
tacky
tasteless
tinselly
too much
trinkety
unbecoming
untasteful
whorish
zesty
Antonyms
How to use gaudy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
gaudy colours
gaudy jewellery
gaudy decorations
Etymology
Traced through Middle English gaudi, ultimately from Latin gaudia ("joys"), tied to the idea of ornaments or trinkets. It is not related to the architect Antoni Gaudí — despite a common myth, the word predates him by centuries.
Full origin of gaudy →Frequently asked questions
What does “gaudy” mean?
The word “gaudy” means showy or overdecorated to the point of looking cheap or tasteless. In plain terms, too flashy or over-decorated — bright, showy, and a bit much.
How do you pronounce “gaudy”?
“Gaudy” is pronounced GAW-dee (/ˈɡɔ.di/ in IPA).
How do you use “gaudy” in a sentence?
Here is “gaudy” used in a sentence: “She wore a gaudy gold necklace with fake gems the size of grapes.”
What is another word for “gaudy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “gaudy” include bedizened, blingish, blatant, brash, campy and catchpenny.
What is the opposite of “gaudy”?
The opposite of “gaudy” — its antonyms — is unadorned.
What part of speech is “gaudy”?
Depending on how it is used, “gaudy” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “gaudy” come from?
The word “gaudy” comes from Latin.
How many meanings does “gaudy” have?
“Gaudy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: showy or overdecorated to the point of looking cheap or tasteless.
