TAWDRY Synonyms: 147 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'tawdry' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of tawdry are flashy , garish , gaudy , and meretricious . While all these words mean "vulgarly or cheaply showy," tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy. // tawdry saloons

Q: When is 'flashy' a more appropriate choice than 'tawdry'?

In some situations, the words flashy and tawdry are roughly equivalent. However, flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar. // a flashy nightclub act

Q: In what contexts can 'garish' take the place of 'tawdry'?

The meanings of garish and tawdry largely overlap; however, garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright. // garish neon signs

Q: When is it sensible to use 'gaudy' instead of 'tawdry'?

While in some cases nearly identical to tawdry , gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation. // circus performers in gaudy costumes

Q: When would 'meretricious' be a good substitute for 'tawdry'?

The words meretricious and tawdry can be used in similar contexts, but meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise. // a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars

tawdry 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of tawdry

as in terrible

marked by low quality and unbecoming appearance We tolerate the neighbors' tawdry Christmas display during the holidays, but by January we're about sick of it.

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tawdry

2 of 2

noun

as in trumpery

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective tawdry contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of tawdry are flashy, garish, gaudy, and meretricious. While all these words mean "vulgarly or cheaply showy," tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy.

tawdry saloons

When is flashy a more appropriate choice than tawdry?

In some situations, the words flashy and tawdry are roughly equivalent. However, flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar.

a flashy nightclub act

In what contexts can garish take the place of tawdry?

The meanings of garish and tawdry largely overlap; however, garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright.

garish neon signs

When is it sensible to use gaudy instead of tawdry?

While in some cases nearly identical to tawdry, gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation.

circus performers in gaudy costumes

When would meretricious be a good substitute for tawdry?

The words meretricious and tawdry can be used in similar contexts, but meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise.

a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of tawdry

Adjective

Shane, whose run in All Out at the Nederlander Theater ends March 8, took some time to show Condé Nast Traveler some of his favorite Manhattan haunts—from a five-star hotel to a tawdry nightclub to the first brow aesthetician that put him at ease. — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Mar. 2026 Recovery has scarcely begun, but insult is being added to fire victims’ injuries as local officials — especially Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass — engage in a tawdry game of finger-pointing. — Dan Walters, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026 Jones envisioned the show as more light-hearted than those of her competitors, weaving comedy skits and bawdy humor in with the tawdry affairs of her guests. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026 His license was not renewed after a rather tawdry incident in Newburyport last July 2. — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tawdry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tawdry

Adjective

But even without it, there seems to be some truth to the idea that if these teams were terrible businesses, they wouldn’t be sold for billions of dollars.

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Not by tightening the siege on Iran directly, but by tightening the siege on those who help this regime, this terrible dictatorship.

— Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrible

Adjective

Dozens of companies have withdrawn over the past decades due to poor profits, an uncertain business outlook and concerns about harm to their reputations from making arms, especially lethal weapons.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.

— Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of poor

Noun

Splurging on finery here even extends to exhausted parents — Makie also has designs for adults.

— New York Times, New York Times, 31 July 2026
While George favors blue suits over the gray ones that dominated a young William’s wardrobe, the royal relatives still look alike when they’re dressed in their formal finery.

— Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 22 July 2026

Definition of finery

Noun

For many Americans who don’t celebrate Christmas, sitting out the foofaraw while the whole country conducts Christmas consumption is an annual dose of alienation.

— Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 23 Nov. 2020
What was Anne Boleyn up to while this whole Charles Brandon foofaraw was happening in England?

— Anne Thériault, Longreads, 25 May 2018

Definition of foofaraw

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“Tawdry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tawdry. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of tawdry

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noun

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