Synonyms for ostentation
ˌɒs tɛnˈteɪ ʃən, -tən-os·ten·ta·tion

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ostentation

   Ostentation is an ambitious showing forth of whatever is thought adapted to win admiration or praise; ostentation may be without words; as, the ostentation of wealth in fine residences, rich clothing, costly equipage, or the like; when in words, ostentation is rather in manner than in direct statement; as, the ostentation of learning. Boasting is in direct statement, and is louder and more vulgar than ostentation. There may be great display or show with little substance; ostentation suggests something substantial to be shown. Pageant, pageantry, parade, and pomp refer principally to affairs of arms or state; as, a royal pageant; a military parade. Pomp is some material demonstration of wealth and power, as in grand and stately ceremonial, rich furnishings, processions, etc., considered as worthy of the person or occasion in whose behalf it is manifested; pomp is the noble side of that which as ostentation is considered as arrogant and vain. Pageant and pageantry are inferior to pomp, denoting spectacular display designed to impress the public mind, and since the multitude is largely ignorant and thoughtless, the words pageant and pageantry have a suggestion of the transient and unsubstantial. Parade (Latin paro, prepare) is an exhibition as of troops in camp going through the evolutions that are to be used in battle, and suggests a lack of earnestness and direct or immediate occasion or demand; hence, in the more general sense, a parade is an uncalled for exhibition, and so used is a more disparaging word than ostentation; ostentation may spring merely from undue self-gratulation, parade implies a desire to impress others with a sense of one's abilities or resources, and is always offensive and somewhat contemptible; as, a parade of wealth or learning. Pomposity and pompousness are the affectation of pomp.

   Synonyms:
   boast, boasting, display, flourish, pageant, pageantry, parade, pomp, pomposity, pompousness, show, vaunt, vaunting

   Antonyms:
   diffidence, modesty, quietness, reserve, retirement, shrinking, timidity, unobtrusiveness

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ostentation

   Synonyms:
   show, parade, display, flourish, pomp, vaunting, boasting

   Antonyms:
   reserve, retirement, modesty, concealment, unobtrusiveness, quiet, diffidence

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ostentation, fanfare, flashnoun

   a gaudy outward display

   Synonyms:
   flare, instant, flashbulb, news bulletin, inflation, flash lamp, flashgun, tucket, heartbeat, flourish, pompousness, flash, photoflash, blink of an eye, pretentiousness, pomposity, flash bulb, wink, newsbreak, flashing, newsflash, jiffy, puffiness, ostentatiousness, split second, fanfare, trice, twinkling, splashiness

2. ostentation, ostentatiousness, pomposity, pompousness, pretentiousness, puffiness, splashiness, inflationnoun

   lack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanity

   Synonyms:
   swelling, puffiness, fanfare, pomposity, flash, pretension, rising prices, largeness, pretentiousness, inflation, splashiness, lump, ostentatiousness, pompousness

3. ostentationnoun

   pretentious or showy or vulgar display

   Synonyms:
   puffiness, fanfare, pomposity, flash, pretentiousness, inflation, splashiness, ostentatiousness, pompousness

Matched Categories

1. • Inelegance
   • Pretentiousness

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ostentationnoun

   Synonyms:
   display, show, parade, flourish, dash, pomposity, pompousness, pageantry, high pretension

How to pronounce ostentation?

How to say ostentation in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use ostentation in a sentence?

1. William Penn:

   Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.

2. Manu:

   Pride not thyself on thy religious works, Give to the poor, but talk not of thy gifts: By pride religious merit melts away, The merit of thy alms, by ostentation.

3. William Hazlitt:

   Fashon is the abortive issue of vain ostentation and exclusive egotism it is haughty, trifling, affected, servile, despotic, mean and ambitious, precise and fantastical, all in a breath -- tied to no rule, and bound to conform to every whim of the minute.

4. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli:

   Most certainly do not engage in ostentation, waste or luxury.

5. William Hutton:

   The charity that hastens to proclaim its good deeds, ceases to be charity, and is only pride and ostentation.