showy
gb/ʃˈoʊi/ us/ʃˈoʊi/
B2
English
hivalkodó, hatásvadász, mutatós
B2
1
hivalkodó
B2
Usage pattern:
[a showy + noun]
He turned up in a showy suit that drew stares from across the room.
Megjelent egy hivalkodó öltönyben, amely a terem másik végéből is magára vonta a tekinteteket.
The restaurant’s décor is a bit showy for my taste.
Az étterem berendezése az én ízlésemnek kissé hivalkodó.
She likes bold colors, but she avoids anything that looks too showy.
Learner examples
His shoes are very showy.
A cipője nagyon hivalkodó.
I don’t like showy clothes.
Nem szeretem a hivalkodó ruhákat.
Common mistake:
Learners may use showy as a positive synonym of “beautiful”; it often suggests “too much” or “trying too hard.”
Meaning
flashy and attention-grabbing
Collocations
showy outfit
|showy dress
|showy jewelry
|showy car
|showy watch
|showy haircut
|showy style
|showy display
|showy behavior
|showy manner
Synonyms
flashy (More informal; emphasizes bright or trendy attention-getting.)
|
ostentatious (More formal; emphasizes showing off wealth or status.)
|
gaudy (Stronger negative; suggests bad taste and clashing colors.)
Antonyms
understated (Deliberately simple and not attention-seeking.)
|
modest (Not meant to attract attention or show off.)
|
plain (Simple and not decorated.)
Themes
appearance
|fashion
|social_life
Definition
Very easy to notice, in a way that tries to get attention.
Very noticeable because it is bright, expensive, or exaggerated, often in a way that seems intended to attract attention and may be in poor taste.
C1
2
hatásvadász
C1
Usage pattern:
[a showy + noun]
The plan came with a showy launch event, but very little follow-through.
A tervet nagy hatásvadász felhajtással indították el, de alig követte valódi megvalósítás.
His argument was full of showy phrases but lacked evidence.
Az érvelése tele volt hatásvadász fordulatokkal, de hiányoztak belőle a bizonyítékok.
They made showy changes to the website without fixing the underlying problems.
Learner examples
The presentation was showy but not helpful.
A prezentáció hatásvadász volt, de nem volt hasznos.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with “showing” (present participle of show). “Showy” is an adjective meaning flashy or made to impress.
Meaning
impressive-looking but not substantial
Collocations
showy trick
|showy gesture
|showy promise
|showy presentation
|showy performance
|showy rhetoric
|showy statistics
|showy renovation
|showy packaging
|showy marketing
Synonyms
superficial (Emphasizes lack of depth rather than visual impact.)
|
cosmetic (Often used for changes that only affect appearance.)
|
for show (Highlights that something is done to be seen, not to achieve a real result.)
Antonyms
substantial (Has real value, depth, or effectiveness.)
|
genuine (Sincere and real, not just for appearance.)
|
practical (Focused on usefulness rather than impression.)
Themes
communication
|business
|education
Definition
Looks impressive, but is not really good or useful.
Designed to impress people rather than to be genuinely useful, effective, or sincere; more about appearance than real quality.
B2
3
mutatós
B1
Usage pattern:
[showy + noun]
The garden is full of showy flowers in late spring.
A kert késő tavasszal tele van mutatós virágokkal.
Peacocks are known for their showy plumage.
A pávákat mutatós tollazatukról ismerik.
She chose a showy fabric with a bold pattern for the curtains.
Learner examples
These showy flowers are beautiful.
Ezek a mutatós virágok gyönyörűek.
Common mistake:
In this sense, showy can be neutral or positive (especially for flowers), unlike the more negative ‘flashy’ sense.
Meaning
bright and decorative
Collocations
showy flowers
|showy blossoms
|showy blooms
|showy plumage
|showy feathers
|showy colors
|showy pattern
|showy leaves
|showy petals
|showy display
Synonyms
striking (Broader; can refer to any strong visual impact, not necessarily decoration.)
|
ornamental (Focuses on being decorative, often deliberately cultivated or designed.)
|
eye-catching (Emphasizes drawing the viewer’s attention.)
Antonyms
subtle (Not strongly noticeable; gentle in appearance.)
|
muted (Not bright; subdued in color.)
|
plain (Not decorated or visually striking.)
Themes
nature
|appearance
|art_design
Definition
Bright and pretty, so it is easy to notice.
Attractively noticeable because it is brightly colored, large, or decorative, especially when describing flowers, plants, feathers, or patterns.
Grammar
Dictionary form
showy
IPA
GB/ʃˈoʊi/
US/ʃˈoʊi/
Syllables & stress
showy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (showy)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: showy
- Comparative: showier
- Superlative: showiest
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.