What are some opposite words for ostentation?

Antonyms for ostentation
ˌɒs tɛnˈteɪ ʃən, -tən-os·ten·ta·tion

This page is about all possible antonyms and opposite words for the term ostentation.

English Synonyms and Antonyms0.0 / 0 votes

  1. ostentation

    Ostentation is an ambitious showing forth of whatever is thought adapted to win admiration or praise; ostentation may be without words; as, the ostentation of wealth in fine residences, rich clothing, costly equipage, or the like; when in words, ostentation is rather in manner than in direct statement; as, the ostentation of learning. 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. Pageant, pageantry, parade, and pomp refer principally to affairs of arms or state; as, a royal pageant; a military parade. Pomp is some material demonstration of wealth and power, as in grand and stately ceremonial, rich furnishings, processions, etc., considered as worthy of the person or occasion in whose behalf it is manifested; pomp is the noble side of that which as ostentation is considered as arrogant and vain. Pageant and pageantry are inferior to pomp, denoting spectacular display designed to impress the public mind, and since the multitude is largely ignorant and thoughtless, the words pageant and pageantry have a suggestion of the transient and unsubstantial. Parade (Latin paro, prepare) is an exhibition as of troops in camp going through the evolutions that are to be used in battle, and suggests a lack of earnestness and direct or immediate occasion or demand; hence, in the more general sense, a parade is an uncalled for exhibition, and so used is a more disparaging word than ostentation; ostentation may spring merely from undue self-gratulation, parade implies a desire to impress others with a sense of one's abilities or resources, and is always offensive and somewhat contemptible; as, a parade of wealth or learning. Pomposity and pompousness are the affectation of pomp.

    Antonyms:
    diffidence, modesty, quietness, reserve, retirement, shrinking, timidity, unobtrusiveness

    Synonyms:
    boast, boasting, display, flourish, pageant, pageantry, parade, pomp, pomposity, pompousness, show, vaunt, vaunting

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms0.0 / 0 votes

  1. ostentation

    Antonyms:
    reserve, retirement, modesty, concealment, unobtrusiveness, quiet, diffidence

    Synonyms:
    show, parade, display, flourish, pomp, vaunting, boasting

Matched Categories

Princeton's WordNet0.0 / 0 votes

  1. ostentation, fanfare, flashnoun

    a gaudy outward display

    Synonyms:
    flare, instant, flashbulb, news bulletin, inflation, flash lamp, flashgun, tucket, heartbeat, flourish, pompousness, flash, photoflash, blink of an eye, pretentiousness, pomposity, flash bulb, wink, newsbreak, flashing, newsflash, jiffy, puffiness, ostentatiousness, split second, fanfare, trice, twinkling, splashiness

  2. ostentation, ostentatiousness, pomposity, pompousness, pretentiousness, puffiness, splashiness, inflationnoun

    lack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanity

    Synonyms:
    swelling, puffiness, fanfare, pomposity, flash, pretension, rising prices, largeness, pretentiousness, inflation, splashiness, lump, ostentatiousness, pompousness

  3. ostentationnoun

    pretentious or showy or vulgar display

    Synonyms:
    puffiness, fanfare, pomposity, flash, pretentiousness, inflation, splashiness, ostentatiousness, pompousness

How to use ostentation in a sentence?

  1. Fyodor Dostoevsky:

    By interpreting freedom as the propagation and immediate gratification of needs, people distort their own nature, for they engender in themselves a multitude of pointless and foolish desires, habits, and incongruous stratagems. Their lives are motivated only by mutual envy, sensuality, and ostentation.

  2. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli:

    Most certainly do not engage in ostentation, waste or luxury.

  3. William Hazlitt:

    Fashon is the abortive issue of vain ostentation and exclusive egotism it is haughty, trifling, affected, servile, despotic, mean and ambitious, precise and fantastical, all in a breath -- tied to no rule, and bound to conform to every whim of the minute.

  4. John Locke:

    Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.

  5. Edwin Hubbel Chapin:

    Ostentation is the signal flag of hypocrisy.

How to pronounce ostentation?

How to say ostentation in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

rankingword
#2268reserve
#3308retirement
#4205quiet
#21238shrinking
#33716modesty
#39704concealment
#60838timidity
#68540quietness
#118932ostentation
#174555diffidence

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