adj
ostentatious
os-tehn-TAY-shuhs
adj
1
Showy or over-the-top, designed mainly to impress or attract attention.
"He pulled up in an ostentatious gold sports car that nobody could ignore."
"Their wedding was criticized as ostentatious, with fireworks and a live orchestra."
2
Gaudy or tastelessly flashy; kitsch.
"The hotel lobby was decorated in an ostentatious style, all gold trim and crystal chandeliers."
How to Use Ostentatious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShowing off wealth or status in an obvious, look-at-me way.
Common mistake
Almost always negative — calling something ostentatious is a criticism, not a compliment.
Common pairings
ostentatious display
ostentatious wealth
ostentatious lifestyle
Word Forms
more ostentatious comparative, most ostentatious superlative
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He pulled up in an _____ gold sports car that nobody could ignore.
Etymology
From Latin ostentatus ("displayed, shown off") plus "-ious," entering English around 1590.