flashy

adjective

ˈfla-shē How to pronounce flashy (audio)
flashier; flashiest
Synonyms of flashynext
1
: momentarily dazzling
2
a
: superficially attractive or impressive
… moving beyond the glitz and pizzazz of the flashy technology to teach true literacy …—Barbara Jones-Kavalier and Suzanne Flannigan
b
: ostentatious or showy often beyond the bounds of good taste
driving around in flashy cars
especially : marked by gaudy brightness
flashy colors
3
chiefly dialectal : lacking in substance or flavor : insipid
flashily
ˈfla-shə-lē How to pronounce flashy (audio)
adverb
flashiness
ˈfla-shē-nəs How to pronounce flashy (audio)
noun

Synonyms of flashy

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gaudy, tawdry, garish, flashy, meretricious mean vulgarly or cheaply showy.

gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation.

circus performers in gaudy costumes

tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy.

tawdry saloons

garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright.

garish neon signs

flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar.

a flashy nightclub act

meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise.

a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars

Examples of flashy in a Sentence

rich young men who drive flashy cars I bought the CD primarily for its flashy cover design.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lamborghini is an Italian automaker known for making flashy cars that are very colorful and loud. — Keenan Thompson, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2026 The robotic races and other flashy events provide for an entertaining spectacle that can lead to easy news headlines and viral video clips. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026 Despite truly astronomical levels of funding, most of the flashiest and most future-shocked crime-control technologies fail and fail consistently. — Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026 Whether your heart is set on dainty crocuses or big and flashy tulips, knowing when and how to plant bulbs is key to getting the most out of your plants. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flashy

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of flashy was in 1593

Rhymes for flashy

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Browse Nearby Words

flash welding
flashy
flask
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Cite this Entry

“Flashy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flashy. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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