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gimcrack

gimcrack

9.9
Showy but cheaply made and worth little
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡɪmˌkræk/
  • Archaic
translation icon : barato
  • She wore a gimcrack necklace that caught everyone’s eye, but upon closer inspection, it was just plastic.

Examples

  • The living room was decorated with gimcrack ornaments that glittered but looked cheap.

  • The shop was full of gimcrack souvenirs that appealed to tourists looking for something flashy.

  • What a gimcrack piece of jewelry that is!

  • The store was filled with gimcrack decorations for the holiday.

  • The living room was decorated with gimcrack ornaments that glittered but looked cheap.

  • She wore a gimcrack necklace that caught everyone’s eye, but upon closer inspection, it was just plastic.

  • The shop was full of gimcrack souvenirs that appealed to tourists looking for something flashy.

Synonyms

crappy
vsgimcrack
  • NSFW
176 7.5

Very bad or of low quality

is similarly poor but also presents an attention-grabbing, cheap appearance
flashy
vsgimcrack
69 4.1

Very bright or showy in a way that attracts attention

is similar but specifically stresses cheap make and low value
tacky
vsgimcrack
  • Informal
68 4.3

Showy in a cheap way that looks bad

also shows tasteless flash but emphasizes being poorly made
loud
vsgimcrack
51 1.8

Too bright and showy in a way that looks bad

is like that but also emphasizes being cheaply made and worthless
cheap
vsgimcrack
39 5.6

Very showy with bright colors or too many decorations

is similar but focuses more on being badly made and valueless
trashy
vsgimcrack
  • Informal
37 3.7

Cheap and low quality that looks ugly or not stylish

is similar but puts more weight on showy, tasteless decoration
tawdry
vsgimcrack
24 7.8

A thing that looks showy but is cheap and low quality

is similarly showy but stresses being poorly made and worthless
gaudy
vsgimcrack
22 5.5

Very bright and showy in a way that looks bad

includes that excess but also signals poor make and low worth
garish
vsgimcrack
16 6.7

Very bright and showy in a way that hurts the eyes

shares excessiveness but adds a sense of cheap, poor construction
junky
vsgimcrack
  • Informal
9 4.8

Poor quality and likely to break quickly

shares poor quality but adds loud, showy, tasteless decoration
brassy
vsgimcrack
  • Offensive
5 7.2

Bold and showy in a way people may find rude

matches bold showiness but conveys cheaper, shoddier build and value
flash
vsgimcrack
  • UK
3 7.4

Showy in a way meant to attract attention

is ostentatious too but stresses poor quality and little value
hacky
vsgimcrack
  • Informal
3 8.5

Made quickly in a rough way that may not last

overlaps in poor make but differs by being showy and flashy
schlocky
vsgimcrack
  • Informal
1 9.1

A thing that is cheap and badly made and shows little taste

adds an extra sense of flashy, worthless showiness to that cheapness
meretricious
vsgimcrack
  • Formal
1 9.9

Attractive in a bright, showy way but not honest or valuable

matches deception but more strongly highlights poor construction and worthlessness
Brummagem
vsgimcrack
  • Archaic
9.9

Cheap and showy but not really high quality

also fakes value but adds tasteless flashiness to poor make
tatty
vsgimcrack
  • UK
7.4

Showy and cheap in a way that looks low quality

is equally flashy but more strongly about being poorly made

Antonyms

41 3.9

Showing good style and polite manners

17 3.6

Built carefully so it is strong and lasts

How Tacky

gimcrack
  • Archaic
9.9
tacky
  • Informal
68 4.3
garish
16 6.7
gaudy
22 5.5

Surface Forms

gimcrack positive

Etymology

When used as an adjective, gimcrack describes something showy but poorly made. A simple image to hold on to is gim + crack as a 'broken gem' that shines from far away but is cheap up close, so gimcrack means tastelessly flashy or low quality.