gaudiness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Literary / Descriptive
Quick answer
What does “gaudiness” mean?
The quality of being excessively bright and showy in a vulgar or tasteless way.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality of being excessively bright and showy in a vulgar or tasteless way.
Ostentatious or tastelessly colorful display; characterized by a lack of sophistication and an overabundance of cheap ornamentation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Consistently negative in both varieties, implying vulgarity and poor taste.
Frequency
Low-frequency, formal/descriptive word in both. Slightly more common in written critique than in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “gaudiness” in a Sentence
[the/its/her] gaudiness of + NPgrew tired of the sheer gaudinesswas put off by its gaudinesscriticized for its gaudinessVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gaudiness” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The room was gaudily decorated with gold plastic and velvet.
American English
- She was dressed gaudily for what was supposed to be a somber event.
adjective
British English
- The gaudy decorations looked quite out of place in the quaint village hall.
American English
- He wore a gaudy tie covered in cartoon characters to the office party.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used in marketing or design critique: 'The packaging's gaudiness alienated our premium target market.'
Academic
Used in art history, literary criticism, and cultural studies to describe aesthetic qualities negatively: 'The critic decried the gaudiness of the Baroque interior.'
Everyday
Low frequency. Used to describe clothes, decorations, or buildings perceived as tacky: 'I can't stand the gaudiness of all those neon lights.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gaudiness”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gaudiness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gaudiness”
- Confusing 'gaudiness' with neutral 'brightness' or positive 'vibrancy'. Using it to describe something simply colourful without the negative connotation. Misspelling as 'gaudyness' (archaic).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, almost without exception. It is a term of criticism, implying a lack of good taste, refinement, or subtlety.
Both involve showiness, but 'flamboyance' can be neutral or even positive (e.g., a flamboyant personality or artistic style). 'Gaudiness' is always negative and specifically implies cheap, vulgar, or excessive ornamentation.
Typically, we describe a person's *appearance* or *style* as having gaudiness ("the gaudiness of his outfit"), or we call the person 'gaudy'. It's less common to say a person 'has gaudiness' as a trait.
Yes, 'gaudiness' is the noun form of the adjective 'gaudy'. 'Gaudy' is the more commonly used form.
The quality of being excessively bright and showy in a vulgar or tasteless way.
Gaudiness is usually formal / literary / descriptive in register.
Gaudiness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡɔː.di.nəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡɑː.di.nəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none directly with 'gaudiness'; the concept is expressed via adjectives: 'gaudy as a peacock', 'all that glitters is not gold']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'GAUDY' + NESS. GAUDY sounds like 'gawdy'—something that makes you 'gawk' or stare because it's so tacky and over-the-top.
Conceptual Metaphor
VULGARITY IS EXCESSIVE BRIGHTNESS / POOR TASTE IS LOUD COLOUR
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'gaudiness'?