ostentatious

/ˌɒstenˈteɪʃəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɑːstenˈteɪʃəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌä-stən-ˈtā-shəs/ (ame, mw)

ostentatious — adjective

  • ostentatiouspositive
  • more ostentatiouscomparative
  • most ostentatioussuperlative

1. using wealth, social rank, or visible power as a display meant to impress other

1.形容詞C1
釋義

using wealth, social rank, or visible power as a display meant to impress other people.

例句

Ari arrived in an ostentatious sports car and parked beside the school gate.

ostentatious + expensive possession used for status

Salma planned an ostentatious wedding with gold chairs and a ten-tier cake.

ostentatious + event showing wealth

同義詞
  • showy

    broader and less formal; not always tied to money or status

  • flashy

    more informal; often about bright modern style

  • pretentious

    focuses more on trying to seem important or refined

反義詞
  • modest

    not trying to impress people with wealth or rank

  • understated

    deliberately simple and quiet in style

用法筆記

Usually describes people, events, spending, or possessions used to signal wealth or rank. Stronger and more critical than sense 2, which can simply describe a showy look.

常見錯誤

❌Her plain canvas bag looked ostentatious.
✅Her diamond-covered bag looked ostentatious.
💡ostentatious suggests an obvious display meant to impress, not a simple object.

2. so bright, decorated, or overdone that it grabs attention at once and feels eage

2.形容詞C1
釋義

so bright, decorated, or overdone that it grabs attention at once and feels eager to be noticed.

例句

Élise rejected the ostentatious wallpaper covered with huge silver flowers.

ostentatious + decorative object

The restaurant menu used an ostentatious gold font on every page.

ostentatious + design detail

同義詞
  • gaudy

    more negative, often suggesting poor taste

  • showy

    less formal and slightly broader in meaning

  • ornate

    focuses on rich decoration without always sounding critical

反義詞
  • plain

    simple and without decoration

  • restrained

    carefully limited and not visually loud

用法筆記

Often used for clothes, rooms, designs, or performances. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense focuses on appearance itself, even when no message about wealth or status is intended.

常見錯誤

❌The plain white cup looked ostentatious.
✅The cup looked ostentatious because it was covered in shiny fake gems.
💡this sense needs a visually overdone look, not a plain one.