showiness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary, sometimes critical.
Quick answer
What does “showiness” mean?
The quality of being visually striking, bright, or attracting attention, often in a way that is considered excessively elaborate or lacking in taste.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality of being visually striking, bright, or attracting attention, often in a way that is considered excessively elaborate or lacking in taste.
Behaviour or style that is deliberately conspicuous, flamboyant, or ostentatious, sometimes implying a lack of substance or sophistication beneath the flashy exterior.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is consistent; the concept is equally recognised. The associated negative judgement might be slightly more pronounced in British English, aligning with traditional values of understatement.
Connotations
Overwhelmingly negative in both variants. Implies vulgarity, pretension, or trying too hard to impress.
Frequency
Low-frequency abstract noun in both. More common in written critique (fashion, art, design, behaviour) than in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “showiness” in a Sentence
[the] showiness of [something][verb] showinessshowiness [verb]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “showiness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The architect's later work began to showiness at the expense of functionality.
- He showinessed his wealth with a fleet of luxury cars.
American English
- The design showinesses its high-tech features a bit too aggressively.
- She accused the festival of showinessing populist trends.
adverb
British English
- The room was decorated showinessly with velvet and gilt.
- He waved showinessly to the cameras.
American English
- The car's trim gleamed showinessly in the sun.
- She dressed showinessly for the relatively casual event.
adjective
British English
- The showiness aesthetic of the casino was overwhelming.
- He had a showiness taste in ties.
American English
- The building's showiness facade was controversial.
- It was a showiness display of wealth.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used critically of a company's branding or executive style: 'The start-up's showiness distracted from its weak business model.'
Academic
Used in art history, literary criticism, sociology: 'The showiness of Baroque architecture contrasted with Renaissance restraint.'
Everyday
Used to criticise fashion, cars, home decor, or boastful behaviour: 'I find the gold trim a bit too much—it's pure showiness.'
Technical
Not typical.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “showiness”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “showiness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “showiness”
- Using it as a positive (e.g., 'I admire her showiness').
- Confusing with 'showmanship' (which can be neutral or positive).
- Misspelling as 'showeyness'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost always. It implies excess and poor taste. A rare neutral use might describe natural phenomena (e.g., a peacock's tail).
'Showmanship' is the skill of performing or presenting in an entertaining way; it can be positive. 'Showiness' is a quality of appearance/behaviour, almost always negative.
Primarily visual, but can be extended metaphorically to anything perceived as overly flashy or lacking subtlety (e.g., 'the showiness of his vocabulary').
Adjectives like 'vulgar', 'gaudy', 'mere', and 'ostentatious' frequently modify 'showiness'.
The quality of being visually striking, bright, or attracting attention, often in a way that is considered excessively elaborate or lacking in taste.
Showiness is usually formal, literary, sometimes critical. in register.
Showiness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃəʊ.i.nəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃoʊ.i.nəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All show and no go (related concept)”
- “Style over substance”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SHOWiness is all about putting on a SHOW. If it's all about the show, it might lack real quality.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUALITY IS DEPTH / SUPERFICIALITY IS SHALLOWNESS. Showiness is associated with a shiny, attractive surface that covers a lack of depth.
Practice
Quiz
In which context might 'showiness' be used NEUTRALLY or POSITIVELY?