garish

[ gair-ish, gar- ]

adjective

1. crudely or tastelessly colorful, showy, or elaborate, as clothes or decoration.

   Synonyms: tawdry, loud

2. excessively ornate or elaborate, as buildings or writings.
3. dressed in or ornamented with bright colors.
4. excessively bright; glaring.

garish

/ ˈɡɛərɪʃ /

adjective

1. gay or colourful in a crude or vulgar manner; gaudy

Derived Forms

• ˈgarishly, adverb
• ˈgarishness, noun

Other Words From

• garish·ly adverb
• garish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of garish¹

1535–45; earlier gaurish, perhaps equivalent to obsolete gaure “to stare” ( Middle English gauren, from Old Norse ) + -ish ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of garish¹

C16: from earlier gaure to stare + -ish

Synonym Study

See gaudy ¹.

Example Sentences

The living room she sits in is filled with knick-knacks and family photos, amid a garish clash of of geometric beige wallpaper, turquoise walls and a patterned red carpet.

From BBC

The garish look and homogenized feel of the show directly informed the way future Disney Channel hits like “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “Sonny With a Chance” would appear.

From Los Angeles Times

His performance is garish but there’s something about him that just wears you down over the course of two hours — one must simply submit to his comedic ministrations.

From Los Angeles Times

The courtroom is tired and shabby, the antithesis of the garish surroundings that are so important to Trump.

From Salon

Mike Love is sitting in a blah-looking room in a Sheraton hotel in North Carolina, the garish pattern of his signature Hawaiian shirt popping against the ochre wallpaper behind him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gaudy
• glittering
• ornate
• ostentatious
• showy
• vulgar