Standard Lemma guide

showy

adj · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈʃəʊ.i/
  • General-American: /ˈʃoʊ.i/
  • rhymes with -əʊi
  • homophone: showie
  • CMU ARPABET: SH OW1 IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Calling attention; flashy; standing out to the eye.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, sometimes

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Making a striking or aesthetically pleasing display.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • showy flowers

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Inclined to showing (by conveying an impression so that events are described in the narrative), instead of telling (by explicitly stating facts).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

superficially attractive and stylish; suggesting wealth or expense

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a glossy TV series

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: glossy

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

(used especially of clothes) marked by conspicuous display

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flashy, gaudy, jazzy, sporty

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

displaying brilliance and virtuosity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adjective satellite

Meaning 7

marked by ostentation but often tasteless

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a cheap showy rhinestone bracelet
  • a splashy half-page ad

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flamboyant, splashy

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From show (noun) + -y.

Across languages

Translations

48 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: показен (pokazen) — for show
  • Bulgarian: ефектен (efekten) — for show
  • Chinese Mandarin: 浮華 /浮华 (fúhuá, fúhua) — for show
  • Chinese Mandarin: 繁华 (fánhuá) — for show
  • Czech: nápadný — for show
  • Dutch: opzichtig — for show
  • Finnish: näyttävä — for show
  • Finnish: pramea — for show
  • French: tape-à-l’œil — for show
  • Galician: ostentoso — for show
  • German: protzig — for show
  • German: auffällig — for show
  • German: schreiend — for show
  • German: grell — for show
  • Irish: éagsúil — for show
  • Irish: taibhseach — for show
  • Japanese: 派手な (hade na) — for show
  • Japanese: けばけばしい (kebakebashii) — for show
  • Macedonian: впе́чатлив (vpéčatliv) — for show
  • Macedonian: е́фектен (éfekten) — for show
  • Macedonian: све́тол (svétol) — for show
  • Macedonian: бе́звкусен (bézvkusen) — for show
  • Macedonian: јарк (jark) — for show
  • Macedonian: дре́члив (dréčliv) — for show
  • Persian: خودنما (xodnamâ) — for show
  • Polish: na pokaz — for show
  • Portuguese: mirabolante — for show
  • Portuguese: exibido — for show
  • Russian: я́ркий (járkij) — for show
  • Russian: эффе́ктный (efféktnyj) — for show
  • Russian: впечатля́ющий (vpečatljájuščij) — for show
  • Russian: безвку́сный (bezvkúsnyj) — for show
  • Russian: пёстрый (pjóstryj) — for show
  • Russian: крича́щий (kričáščij) — for show
  • Russian: показно́й (pokaznój) — for show
  • Russian: на пока́з (na pokáz) — for show
  • Russian: напы́щенный (napýščennyj) — for show
  • Spanish: ostentoso — for show
  • Spanish: jactancioso — for show
  • Spanish: aparatoso — for show
  • Spanish: fardón — for show
  • Spanish: de relumbrón — for show
  • Tagalog: mapagyabang — for show
  • Tagalog: hambog — for show
  • German: auffällig — making a striking or aesthetically pleasing display
  • German: prächtig — making a striking or aesthetically pleasing display
  • Irish: péacach — making a striking or aesthetically pleasing display
  • Spanish: vistoso — making a striking or aesthetically pleasing display