adj

tawdry

TAWD-ree

Tawdry (adj) means cheap-looking and showy; gaudy in a low-quality way. Example: “She wore a tawdry sequined dress that looked better from a distance.”

adj

Cheap-looking and showy; gaudy in a low-quality way.

"She wore a tawdry sequined dress that looked better from a distance."

"The motel room was decorated with tawdry plastic ornaments."

Sordid or morally shabby, describing behaviour or a situation.

"The tabloids dug up every tawdry detail of the affair."

How to use tawdry

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCheaply flashy, or sordid — used for gaudy objects and for shabby, scandalous behaviour alike.

Common pairings

tawdry affair tawdry decorations tawdry details

Word forms

tawdrier comparative, tawdries plural, tawdriest superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She wore a _____ sequined dress that looked better from a distance.

Etymology

Shortened from "tawdry lace," originally "Saint Audrey's lace" — cheap necklaces sold to pilgrims at fairs honouring the English saint; once the fashion faded, the word came to mean "cheap and gaudy."

Frequently asked questions

What does “tawdry” mean?

The word “tawdry” means cheap-looking and showy; gaudy in a low-quality way. In plain terms, cheaply flashy, or sordid — used for gaudy objects and for shabby, scandalous behaviour alike.

How do you pronounce “tawdry”?

“Tawdry” is pronounced TAWD-ree (/ˈtɔ.dɹi/ in IPA).

How do you use “tawdry” in a sentence?

Here is “tawdry” used in a sentence: “She wore a tawdry sequined dress that looked better from a distance.”

What part of speech is “tawdry”?

“Tawdry” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “tawdry” have?

“Tawdry” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: cheap-looking and showy; gaudy in a low-quality way.