tawdry

[ taw-dree ]

adjective

, taw·dri·er, taw·dri·est.

1. (of finery, trappings, etc.) gaudy; showy and cheap.

   Synonyms: meretricious, flashy

   Antonyms: elegant

2. low or mean; base:

   tawdry motives.

noun

1. cheap, gaudy apparel.

tawdry

/ ˈtɔːdrɪ /

adjective

1. cheap, showy, and of poor quality

   tawdry jewellery

Derived Forms

• ˈtawdrily, adverb
• ˈtawdriness, noun

Other Words From

• tawdri·ly adverb
• tawdri·ness noun
• un·tawdry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tawdry¹

1605–15; short for ( Sain ) t Audrey lace, i.e., neck lace bought at St. Audrey's Fair in Ely, England; so called after St. Audrey ( Old English Aethelthrȳth, died 679), Northumbrian queen and patron saint of Ely, who, according to tradition, died of a throat tumor which she considered just punishment of her youthful liking for neck laces

Word History and Origins

Origin of tawdry¹

C16 tawdry lace, shortened and altered from Seynt Audries lace, finery sold at the fair of St Audrey (Etheldrida), 7th-century queen of Northumbria and patron saint of Ely, Cambridgeshire

Example Sentences

Instead of a fixation on the tawdry side of life, you see works that explore the things that bind all people together: family, love, politics, complex emotions and sensual memories.

From Salon

He was required to listen to weeks of unflattering testimony, including, several times, to his own voice on that tape Cohen made of him, utterly cognizant of the tawdry deal he was striking.

From Salon

Now, the more tawdry aspects of the Biden family story will be on public display, such as text messages between Hunter Biden and his family - including intimate communication with Beau’s widow.

From BBC

First, there was the sex itself that led to the tawdry cover-up attempt.

From Salon

The defense unsuccessfully pushed for a mistrial over the tawdry details prosecutors elicited from Daniels.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• sleazy
• tacky
• vulgar