ostentation

/,ɔsten'teiʃn/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • Pretentious or showy or vulgar display: "Ostentation" refers to an excessive, often vulgar, display intended to attract attention or impress others, typically through wealth, status, or knowledge.
    • Lack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanity: It describes a quality of being overly showy in a way that reveals vanity and a lack of true sophistication or elegance.
    • A gaudy outward display: It signifies a flashy, overly bright, or tastelessly ornate exhibition meant for public view.
Usage and Examples
  • Noun:
    • The billionaire's mansion was a monument to ostentation, with gold-plated fixtures everywhere. (The house showed an excessive, vulgar display of wealth.)
    • Her speech was full of ostentation, using complex words merely to sound intelligent. (Her manner of speaking was a pretentious display.)
    • They avoided ostentation, preferring a simple and elegant lifestyle. (They avoided showy, gaudy displays.)
Advanced Usage
  • "To avoid ostentation": to deliberately steer clear of showy or pretentious displays.
    • The artist, despite his fame, lived in a modest studio to avoid ostentation.
  • "Sheer ostentation": used to emphasize the complete and unadulterated nature of the showiness.
    • The ceremony was an exercise in sheer ostentation, with no regard for subtlety.
Variants and Related Words
  • Ostentatious (adj): Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; showy.
    • His ostentatious jewelry drew many stares.
  • Ostentatiously (adv): In a showy or pretentious manner.
    • He ostentatiously parked his expensive car in front of the restaurant.
Synonyms
  • Showiness: The quality of being attractively bright or colorful in a way that lacks taste.
  • Flamboyance: The tendency to attract attention because of exuberance, confidence, and stylishness (can be positive or negative).
  • Pretentiousness: Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.
  • Vulgarity: The state of being lacking in sophistication or good taste.
Antonyms
  • Modesty: The quality of being unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements.
  • Simplicity: The quality of being plain or uncomplicated in form or design.
  • Restraint: Moderation or self-control; the act of holding back.
Related Idioms and Phrases
  • "Conspicuous consumption": A term often associated with ostentation, referring to the lavish spending on goods and services to publicly display economic power.
    • The gala was an event of conspicuous consumption, with guests trying to outdo each other's outfits.
Noun
  1. pretentious or showy or vulgar display
  2. lack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanity
  3. a gaudy outward display

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