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GRE vocabulary

ostentatious

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore O words

marked by a showy display intended to impress others

Word origin: From Latin ostentare, to display, from ostendere, to show.

In a sentence

Ostentatious in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing ostentatious in a sentence.

His ostentatious watch and sports car seemed designed to advertise his wealth.

The new headquarters struck shareholders as ostentatious, its marble atrium signaling status more than need.

Synonyms
showyflashypretentious
Antonyms
modestunderstatedunassuming
Usage & nuance

Using “ostentatious” well

Ostentatious means marked by showy display meant to impress, and it is consistently negative. It implies vulgar or excessive flaunting rather than tasteful presentation.

Common questions

Questions about “ostentatious

Ostentatious (adjective) means marked by a showy display intended to impress others
Here is ostentatious used in an example sentence: "His ostentatious watch and sports car seemed designed to advertise his wealth." Another example: "The new headquarters struck shareholders as ostentatious, its marble atrium signaling status more than need."
Common synonyms for ostentatious include showy, flashy, pretentious.
Antonyms of ostentatious include modest, understated, unassuming.
Ostentatious clusters with showy, flashy, and pretentious. Its antonyms modest, understated, and unassuming mark the contrasting answer.
Yes. Ostentatious is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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