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Ostentatious

Characterized by or given to pretentious, showy display designed to attract attention; flashy and conspicuous.

adjective

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Imagine This

Picture a socialite at a gala wearing a gold-plated cape encrusted with diamonds, while cameras flash from every angle and guests whisper about the outfit—every movement is a performance designed to be noticed.

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Sounds Like

os-TEN-tee-uhs

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Looks Like

Similar to ostentation; resembles the noun ostentation in meaning and form.

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Remember This

Root meaning is to show off; the word comes from Latin ostentare 'to show forth' via ostentatio; it is commonly used to critique excessive displays of wealth or vanity.

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Other Forms

ostentationnoun

ostentatiouslyadverb

ostentatiousnessnoun

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Connect With

showy, gaudy, flashy, pretentious, flamboyant, conspicuous

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Note

Use sparingly and be mindful of tone. Not every flashy display is ostentatious; the word conveys a strong, often negative, emphasis on conspicuous showing-off.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The actress wore an ostentatious diamond necklace that drew cameras from every angle.
His ostentatious lifestyle—luxury cars, private jets, and designer wardrobes—was the talk of the town.

Synonyms

showypretentiousgaudyflamboyantconspicuous

Antonyms

modestunpretentiousrestrained

Etymology

From Latin ostentare 'to show forth' (from ostent-, 'to show') and ostentatio 'a display', via Old French ostentatoire; entered English in the 16th–17th centuries.

Mnemonic

Think of ostentatious as 'showing off' on purpose: imagine someone at a party displaying ten flashy items to everyone—O stands for Over-the-top, STENT marks standing out, and 'ious' signals it's an adjective describing that trait.