tawdry
/ˈtɔːdri/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɔdri] /ˈtɔːdri/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɔdri] /ˈtȯ-drē How to pronounce tawdry (audio) ˈtä-/ (ame, mw)
tawdry — adjective
- tawdrypositive
- tawdriercomparative
- tawdriestsuperlative
1. having a showy, flashy look that is meant to seem expensive or elegant, but is a
having a showy, flashy look that is meant to seem expensive or elegant, but is actually made of cheap materials and poorly finished.
The window display was filled with tawdry gold-coloured jewellery that turned her skin green.
collocation: tawdry jewellery / tawdry decorations
Vikram regretted the tawdry silk curtains when the colour faded in the sun.
The hotel lobby looked tawdry with its plastic flowers and fake marble pillars.
Ayana bought a tawdry necklace from a street vendor, but it snapped before she wore it once.
- gaudy
focuses on bright, clashing colours rather than cheapness
- flashy
more informal; can be positive when describing showy style on purpose
- cheap-looking
more direct; lacks the 'pretending to be elegant' connotation
文法句型
tawdry + noun (attributive)
be + tawdry (predicative)
用法筆記
Often used before nouns describing decorative objects (jewellery, decorations, furniture, clothing). The sense focuses on the gap between intended elegance and actual cheapness.
常見錯誤
2. involving behaviour that is considered morally low or unpleasant, especially whe
involving behaviour that is considered morally low or unpleasant, especially when it is meant to shock people or attract attention in a cheap way.
The newspaper published a tawdry story about the politician's private life just before the election.
collocation: tawdry story / tawdry scandal
Nadia felt the reality show promoted tawdry behaviour only to win higher viewer numbers.
The article described the tawdry details of the inheritance dispute between the two sisters.
Residents complained that the new nightclub brought a tawdry atmosphere to the quiet street.
- decent
describes behaviour that meets normal moral standards
- respectable
describes behaviour that earns social approval
文法句型
tawdry + noun
tawdry + noun phrase (of scandal, affair, story)
用法筆記
Common in journalistic and literary contexts. Unlike the adjective sense 1 (CHEAP AND SHOWY), this sense describes actions and events rather than objects. Distinguish from 'sordid' — tawdry suggests a tacky, attention-seeking kind of immorality rather than hidden corruption.
常見錯誤
tawdry — noun
1. cheap, brightly-coloured decorations, jewellery, or clothing items that are inte
cheap, brightly-coloured decorations, jewellery, or clothing items that are intended to look elegant or expensive but are obviously of low quality, considered together as a group or type of thing.
The costume shop was full of tawdry — cheap feather boas and plastic tiaras that broke quickly.
uncountable: refers to a collection of cheap showy items as a mass
Eve cleared out the drawer full of tawdry and kept only her grandmother's real silver brooch.
The market stalls displayed nothing but tawdry — shiny plastic bags and metal trinkets painted gold.
Allison threw away all the tawdry from her wardrobe and donated the rest of her clothes to charity.
文法句型
tawdry as an uncountable noun
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English, mostly found in literary or historical descriptions. Unlike the adjective, which is common enough for B2-C1 learners, the noun form is C2-level. It is always uncountable and refers to a category of items rather than one specific object.