Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Of very poor quality; cheap and inferior: Describes something that is badly made, of low value, or lacking in substance.
   • Tastelessly showy or vulgar: Describes something that is gaudy, flashy, or designed to attract attention in a way that is considered cheap or lacking in good taste.

Usage and Examples

• Describing poor quality or value:
  • The store was full of trashy souvenirs that broke easily.
  • She regretted buying the trashy novel; the plot was predictable and poorly written.
• Describing tasteless showiness:
  • He wore a trashy, brightly colored suit to the formal event.
  • The casino's decor was criticized for being overly trashy and garish.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Cultural Connotation: The word often carries a judgmental tone, implying that something is not only of low quality but also appeals to unsophisticated tastes.
  • Critics dismissed the film as trashy entertainment, though it was popular at the box office.
• "Trashy" vs. "Cheap": While "cheap" can simply mean low in price, "trashy" strongly emphasizes a lack of quality, value, or taste.
  • The bracelet wasn't just cheap; it was trashy and turned her skin green.

Variants and Related Words

• Trash (n): Waste material or something considered worthless.
  • Please take out the trash.
• Trashiness (n): The quality of being trashy.
  • The trashiness of the program was part of its appeal for some viewers.

Synonyms

• Tawdry: Showy but cheap and of poor quality.
• Gaudy: Extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless.
• Meretricious: Apparently attractive but having no real value, often in a showy way.
• Shoddy: Badly made or done.
• Kitschy: Considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic way.

Antonyms

• Classy: Stylish and sophisticated.
• High-quality: Of superior standard or grade.
• Tasteful: Showing good aesthetic judgment or appropriate behavior.
• Refined: Elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, or taste.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• "Trashy talk": (Informal) Gossip or conversation considered to be of a vulgar or sensational nature.
  • The tabloids are full of nothing but trashy talk about celebrities.
• "Trashy reality TV": A common descriptor for a genre of television programming perceived as lowbrow, sensational, or lacking substantive content.
  • He spends his evenings watching trashy reality TV.

Adjective

1. tastelessly showy
   • a flash car
   • a flashy ring
   • garish colors
   • a gaudy costume
   • loud sport shirts
   • a meretricious yet stylish book
   • tawdry ornaments
2. cheap and inferior; of no value
   • rubbishy newspapers that form almost the sole reading of the majority
   • trashy merchandise