gaudy

¹

[ gaw-dee ]

adjective

, gaud·i·er, gaud·i·est.

1. brilliantly or excessively showy:

   gaudy plumage.

2. cheaply showy in a tasteless way; flashy.

   Synonyms: obvious, conspicuous, loud, tawdry

   Antonyms: sober, modest

3. ostentatiously ornamented; garish.

gaudy

²

[ gaw-dee ]

noun

, British.

, plural gaud·ies.

1. a festival or celebration, especially an annual college feast.

gaudy

¹

/ ˈɡɔːdɪ /

noun

1. a celebratory festival or feast held at some schools and colleges

gaudy

²

/ ˈɡɔːdɪ /

adjective

1. gay, bright, or colourful in a crude or vulgar manner; garish

Derived Forms

• ˈgaudiness, noun
• ˈgaudily, adverb

Other Words From

• gaud·i·ly adverb
• gaud·i·ness noun
• un·gaud·i·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gaudy¹

First recorded in 1520–30; originally attributive use of gaudy ²( def ); later taken as a derivative of gaud ( def )

Origin of gaudy²

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin gaudium joy, delight

Word History and Origins

Origin of gaudy¹

C16: from Latin gaudium joy, from gaudēre to rejoice

Origin of gaudy²

C16: from gaud

Synonym Study

Gaudy, flashy, garish, showy agree in the idea of conspicuousness and, often, bad taste. That which is gaudy challenges the eye, as by brilliant colors or evident cost, and is not in good taste: a gaudy hat. Flashy suggests insistent and vulgar display, in rather a sporty manner: a flashy necktie. Garish suggests a glaring brightness, or crude vividness of color, and too much ornamentation: garish decorations. Showy applies to that which is strikingly conspicuous, but not necessarily offensive to good taste: a garden of showy flowers; a showy dress.

Example Sentences

Here’s betting the Bills put a first blemish on that gaudy KC record.

From Los Angeles Times

Griffin’s reluctance to shuffle into obscurity has certainly angered her dissenters, but the gaudy display of political extremism outside the show only excited Griffin’s fans, who rumbled about whether the comedian would address the nonsense on stage.

From Salon

In many ways, he accomplished a lot: He managed Lake George’s transformation from a gaudy, neon-lit midcentury tourist trap to a modern family destination whose natural beauty draws 6 million visitors each summer.

From Slate

Puck has made a name for himself catering the Oscars and its gaudy after-party, the Governors Ball, for the past 30 years.

From Salon

A gaudy lifestyle that belied growing money problems.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brilliant
• flashy
• garish
• jazzy
• ostentatious
• showy
• snazzy
• splashy