garish

/ˈɡeərɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡerɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈger-ish/ (ame, mw)

garish — adjective

  • garishpositive
  • more garishcomparative
  • most garishsuperlative

1. of colours or lights, so strong that they hurt the eyes and feel unpleasant to l

1.形容詞C1
釋義

of colours or lights, so strong that they hurt the eyes and feel unpleasant to look at.

例句

The garish pink walls of the café gave Aylin an instant headache.

garish + noun (modifying a colour or surface)

Christopher complained that the new street lamps were too garish at night.

be + garish (predicative, describing a light source)

同義詞
  • gaudy

    very close synonym; often interchangeable when colours look cheap and clashing

  • lurid

    stronger; suggests a sickly, almost shocking brightness

  • loud

    informal; usually of clothes or patterns that grab attention

反義詞
  • muted

    soft and gentle in colour — the opposite tone

  • subtle

    quiet and refined; pleasant to the eye

文法句型

garish + noun

be + garish

用法筆記

Almost always negative — a garish colour or light is one the speaker dislikes. Distinguish from 'bright', which can be approving (a bright smile, a bright morning).

常見錯誤

❌The classroom had garish sunlight pouring through the windows.
✅The classroom had bright sunlight pouring through the windows.
💡'garish' implies bad taste or pain to the eyes, so it does not fit natural light.
❌Her smile was garish.
✅Her smile was wide.
💡'garish' describes colours, lights, or decoration, not facial expressions.

2. looking cheap and over-the-top because of too much ornament, mismatched style, o

2.形容詞C1
釋義

looking cheap and over-the-top because of too much ornament, mismatched style, or a wish to be noticed.

例句

Minh felt the hotel lobby was garish, with gold statues on every table.

be + garish (predicative, judging décor)

Jiwoo described the wedding as a garish display of wealth and luxury cars.

garish + noun (modifying an ostentatious event)

同義詞
  • tacky

    informal; emphasises cheap or low-class appearance

  • flashy

    shows off wealth; less focused on bad taste than 'garish'

  • ostentatious

    more formal; about deliberately showing off, not just looking ugly

反義詞
  • tasteful

    chosen with good judgement and restraint

  • understated

    deliberately quiet and unshowy in style

文法句型

garish + noun

be + garish

用法筆記

Subject is usually decoration, clothing, jewellery, or a building's style — something chosen to impress that ends up looking vulgar. Distinguish from sense 1 (TOO BRIGHT): this sense judges taste, not just brightness.

常見錯誤

❌The simple wooden chair was garish.
✅The gold-painted chair was garish.
💡'garish' needs the object to be showy or excessive, not plain.
❌Her singing voice was garish.
✅Her outfit was garish.
💡'garish' applies to visible things like clothes or rooms, not to sounds.