showyadj.
/ˈʃəʊi/, U.S. /ˈʃoʊi/ 1.
a. Of actions, qualities, etc.: performed or displayed for show, or so as to attract attention or admiration. Of a person: behaving in a way that attracts attention or admiration.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > splendour > [adjective] > of fine or gay appearance > specifically of immaterial things or persons
showy1697
Latin1914
1697 G. Stanhope tr. P. Charron Of Wisdom II. ii. v. 132 Thus are we abused by the large Pretences of Superstition, and prefer it before the less showy and pompous Charms of true Religion.
1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. List of Subscribers (ad fin.) Had I been fond of borrowed Plumes this List had been considerably more Showy than it is.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia I. ii. vi. 271 Forming friendships with every shewy adventurer that comes in your way.
1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well I. v. 113 His manners, without being showy, were gentlemanlike and pleasing.
1835 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. II. xxxii. 444 The showy talents, in which the present age prides itself, fade away before the true metal of Prophets and Apostles.
1868 W. Bagehot in Fortn. Rev. Apr. 454 The progress of the military art is the most conspicuous, I was about to say the most showy, fact in human history.
1912 Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. 817 Dr. McGiffert is..inclined to let generalities—more or less showy—do duty for concrete statements of fact.
1956 G. Huntington Madame Solario xxiii. 272 She was so much more showy and daring than any of them could be.
2004 J. Moore Dot.homme (2005) ix. 121 Kara envelops me in a showy hug then leans back to air kiss my cheeks.
b. Striking or impressive in appearance. Later esp.: visually striking in an ostentatious or pretentious way, esp. in being excessively bright, large, or expensive-looking; flashy; gaudy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > flashiness or gaudiness > [adjective]
fine1526
garish1545
flaunting1567
gawish1567
taffety1597
showful1607
flaming1609
flaring1610
over-brave1620
showish1675
rantingc1685
gaudy1709
showy1712
tinselled1738
kicky1790
flaunty1796
flashy1801
slangish1813
florid1815
tigerish1831
flash1836
flary1841
loud1850
flashy-looking1852
splurgy1852
cheesy1858
flagrant1858
jingo1859
cheesy1863
orchidaceous1864
flamboyant1879
vociferous1883
voyant1906
grandstanding1908
floozy1911
ritzy1919
like a (or the) dog's dinner1927
plush horse1936
kitsch1953
zazzy1961
pizzazz1969
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > splendour > [adjective] > of fine or gay appearance
gay?c1225
jollyc1380
gallantc1420
show-worthy1542
gaud-glorious1555
brave1568
of show1580
gaudy1583
braving1600
cavalier1670
showish1675
showy1712
braw1724
branky1790
viewy1850
cheesy1858
cheesy1863
jazzified1920
jazzed1922
zizzy1966
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 434. ¶6 The Men would make a Present of every thing that was Rich and Showy to the Women whom they most admired.
1757 W. Thompson Royal Navy-men's Advocate 40 They do not always Weigh six Hundred Weight,..tho' large shewy Oxen.
1779 G. Keate Sketches from Nature (ed. 2) I. 8 Rather a showy than a pretty woman.
?c1795 Strange & Wonderful Predict. C. Love (new ed.) 45 Now, hear the declaration of a fine shewy dressy person to God, viz. I will dress, powder, curl, and paint, to spite you, God.
1832 C. Babbage Econ. Machinery & Manuf. xiv. 106 Inferior but showy watches are made at a cheap rate.
1839 W. M. Thackeray Fatal Boots Oct. A showy black-haired woman with one eye.
1864 in T. P. Lowry Story Soldiers wouldn't Tell (1994) vii. 85 Wearing a showy, flash or immodest dress in public..[is] forbidden.
1920 E. Wharton Age of Innocence ii. xxi. 206 There had been the pleasurable excitement of choosing a showy grey stepper for May's brougham.
1956 People 13 May 2/3 He bought a showy saloon, slapped down his deposit and drove away.
1995 Nichols Garden Nursery 8/1 (advt.) Butterfly Weed... Showy orange flowers bloom in August and September.
2010 New Yorker 3 May 43/1 Some of them were mysteriously, sinisterly rich, and built showy McMansions.
2. Botany and Zoology. Forming names (usually book names) of plants and animals which are brightly coloured or otherwise striking in appearance.In names of plants, frequently used to render the scientific Latin specific epithet speciosus (see specious adj.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > [adjective] > striking or splendid in appearance or fragrance
attired1757
showy1793
opulent1863
the world > animals > birds > [adjective] > beautiful or showy
showy1793
splendid1811
1793 B. Edwards Hist. Brit. Colonies W. Indies I. 490 Xeranthemum speciosissimum Shewy Xeranthemum.
1800 J. Donn Hortus Cantabrigiensis (ed. 2) 39 Pancratium speciosum. Shewy Pancratium. E. Indies.
1817 J. F. Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. X. 466 Showy Tanager (Tanagra ornata).
1880 C. E. Bessey Bot. 460 L[ilium] speciosum, the Showy Lily, from Japan.
1896 T. W. Saunders Encycl. Gardening (ed. 2) 359 Showy Cone-flower (Rudbeckia speciosa)—see Rudbeckia.
1974 C. R. Johnson in Aging in Cold-blooded Animals II. 122 The showy snailfish, Liparis pulchellus Ayres occurs from California to the Bering Sea at depths of about 7–50 fathoms.
2006 Monterey County (Calif.) Herald (Nexis) 6 Feb. (Home and Garden section) The shelter's plants include several that attract butterflies and bees, such as irises, lilacs, Jupiter's beard, monkeyflower and showy milkweed.
Compounds
C1. Adverbial and parasynthetic, as showy-coloured, showy-dressed, showy-flowered, etc.
ΚΠ
1788 A. Hughes Henry & Isabella III. 80 A tall, plain, showy dressed, affected woman.
1865 A. Thomas On Guard II. xix. 239 She, not being a gusty or showy-mannered woman, marked all these fluctuations of feeling very delicately.
1870 H. Macmillan Bible Teachings ix. 186 It is not possessed of showy-coloured flowers; but is distinguished for the grace of its foliage.
1906 Plant World 9 204 The lawn is set about the edge with beds of showy-flowered plants.
2000 A. Plotnik Urban Tree Bk. 367 Such showy-blossomed hardwoods as chestnut and catalpa.
C2. Complementary, as showy-looking.
ΚΠ
1812 Lady's Monthly Museum July 28 Alfred Berkley was a showy looking young man, agreeable in conversation.
1917 E. Wharton Summer ix. 135 A party of showy-looking girls were dabbing on powder and straightening immense plumed hats.
2003 S. Kernick Murder Exchange (2004) 49 Roy Fowler lived in a modern, showy-looking development complex.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1697