Synonyms for ostentation
Most common
pomposity pretentiousness pompousness inflation fanfare flash pomp
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Pomposity
pomposity, pretentiousness, pompousness, inflation, puffiness, ostentatiousness, splashiness
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
Ambitious display; vain show; display intended to excite admiration or applause.
- n. 2
A group of peafowl.
Related words
- Word family
- ostentatious ostensive ostensible
Forms
- Plural
- ostentations → pomposities, pretentiousnesses, pompousnesses, inflations…
Choose the right word
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.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- pretentiousness His pretentiousness is irritating.
- pomp Buckingham Palace is a symbol of pomp and ceremony.
- boasting His continual boasting gave offense to everybody.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| ostentation | steady | |
| pomposity | steady | |
| pretentiousness | falling | |
| puffiness | rising | |
| pompousness | falling | |
| pomp | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- show1, pomp1
- 5 letters
- flash1
- 6 letters
- parade2
- 7 letters
- display2, pageant2, fanfare2
- 8 letters
- flourish2, boasting2, vaunting
- 9 letters
- inflation3, pageantry3, pomposity4, puffiness, showiness
- 11 letters
- pompousness3, splashiness, fanfaronade
- 15 letters
- pretentiousness
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (parade2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- ostentation
- Español
- ostentación