gaudy
Gaudy (adj) means Showy or overdecorated to the point of looking cheap or tasteless. Example: “She wore a gaudy gold necklace with fake gems the size of grapes.”
How to use gaudy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishToo flashy or over-decorated — bright, showy, and a bit much.
A popular claim that "gaudy" comes from the architect Gaudí is false; the word existed long before he was born.
Word forms
gaudier comparative, gaudies plural, gaudies plural, gaudiest superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wore a _____ gold necklace with fake gems the size of grapes.
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for gaudy
See all rhymes for 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.
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