gaudy and ostentatious; florid but empty
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesadjective
gaudy; showy; ostentatiously gorgeous
derogatoryDescribes appearance, clothing, or decorations that are excessively flashy and lack genuine taste.
Her attire is too gaudy and ends up looking tacky.
The interior decoration of this palace is ostentatiously gorgeous, lacking the solemnity expected of the imperial family.
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He pursues a flashy lifestyle but neglects the cultivation of his inner self.
adjective
florid; flowery but shallow; ornate yet insubstantial
literaryPrimarily used to criticize literary style—writing that is superficially beautiful but lacks depth, substance, or sincerity.
This article's language is florid, but its arguments are hollow and meaningless.
Some parallel prose from the Six Dynasties period became overly ornate, excessively pursuing formal beauty.
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Critics believe his early poems are florid but lack genuine emotion.