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
1
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."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishCheaply flashy, or sordid — used for gaudy objects and for shabby, scandalous behaviour alike.
Common pairings
tawdry affair
tawdry decorations
tawdry details
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Word forms
- Plural
- tawdries
- Comparative
- tawdrier
- Superlative
- tawdriest
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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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.
