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swank

swank

4 7.7
Fashionable and showy in a way that seems rich
  • adjective
  • /swæŋk/
translation icon : lujoso
  • Within the same week you spoke of your dream, I had one where a group of us were at a party at a very swank place with lots of mahogany, oriental rugs, and the scent of Boston Brahmin in the air.
  • swank hotel
  • swank party
  • swank restaurant

Examples

  • And don't even try buying your clothes at Target and thinking you can get away with looking swank.

    Blog text (2)
  • After every victory, Joltin' Joe is the toast of Harlem, yet he's always welcome at Jack Dempsey's swank Manhattan restaurant.

  • "Shortcut to the mountains?" as if standing at the entrance to some swank hotel.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Arnold loved dictating that letter to his secretary, sitting there in his swank oak office in the new junior high.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Still, living in a less than swank apartment in the East Village, he thought it likely that the spirit of his love fests might well have been diminished had they been set in his own humble dwelling.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • He's still got all his marbles, and he's selling them at twenty bucks a pop in that swank little Greenwich Village boutique of his.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • They decided to celebrate their anniversary at a swank restaurant known for its luxurious ambiance.

  • The gala was held in a swank ballroom adorned with sparkling chandeliers and plush decorations.

  • She wore a swank dress that turned heads at the charity event, catching everyone's attention.

Synonyms

fancy
vsswank
497 2.7

Decorative and not plain, often with many small details

is elegant and fashionable but with less ornamental decoration
elegant
vsswank
165 3.3

Having an attractive, stylish look that shows good taste

is similar but leans more toward showy attention-getting style
classy
vsswank
133 4.1

Being elegant and stylish and showing good taste

is more about impressive showiness than quiet refinement
glamorous
vsswank
132 4.3

Looking stylish and exciting in a way that attracts attention

is more about being impressive and openly showy than charm
smart
vsswank
127 2.4

Looks neat, clean, and fashionable

is more impressively showy and glamorous rather than just neat
stylish
vsswank
85 2.0

Clothes or rooms that look fashionable and attractive

leans more toward showy attention-getting display
chic
vsswank
57 3.5

Elegant and fashionable in a simple, modern way

is similar but with more emphasis on being impressive or showy
high-class
vsswank
20 5.8

Showing elegant, expensive style that makes someone seem richer or more important

is showy and fashionable but not necessarily pretentious in tone
swanky
vsswank
  • Informal
18 7.4

Very stylish and expensive-looking, like a fancy car or hotel

is similar but with slightly less ostentation
dapper
vsswank
16 6.2

Neat and stylish in the way a man dresses

is elegant and showy in impressing others rather than only neat
snazzy
vsswank
  • Informal
15 7.2

Bright and stylish in a way that draws attention

is stylish too but generally more impressively showy
glitzy
vsswank
13 4.8

A bright, showy look that tries to impress people

is elegant and fashionable but less blatantly superficial
dressy
vsswank
12 3.6

Suitable for formal events like a wedding or party

is showy and impressive but not only tied to formal wear
glossy
vsswank
10 4.3

Looking attractive and expensive but not actually good

is genuinely fashionable and elegant rather than merely surface-deep
ritzy
vsswank
  • Informal
7 7.5

Expensive and fashionable, showing that someone has money

is elegant and showy but not focused on expensive luxury
refined
vsswank
  • Formal
4 4.1

Showing elegant, polite manners and good taste

is more openly showy and impressive than understated refinement
glam
vsswank
2 4.5

Stylish and attractive with shiny, showy details

is similar but leans toward wider fashionable elegance not just shine
high-toned
vsswank
1 8.7

Very fancy in a way that tries to impress people

is fashionable and elegant but less affectedly pretentious
très chic
vsswank
1 9.2

Very stylish and elegant

is fashionable and showy but less intensively stylish
swish
vsswank
  • UK
1 7.2

Being stylish and looking expensive

is equally fashionable but may be more openly showy
schmancy
vsswank
  • Informal
1 9.6

Looking expensive or stylish in a showy, joking way

is similarly showy but usually taken seriously rather than ironically
soignée
vsswank
  • Formal
9.9

Very well dressed and neatly groomed in a stylish way

is equally elegant but often more openly flashy or showy
haute
vsswank
8.3

Very high-class and fashionable, often for food or clothing

is showy and impressive but not always exclusive or elite
dandified
vsswank
  • Archaic
9.1

Dressed or acting in a showy, very fashionable way

is fashionable but typically less affected and less fussy
hotsy-totsy
vsswank
  • Archaic
9.9

Having a fashionable, attractive look, like new clothes or a neat room

is similar but usually more formal and deliberately showy
tonish
vsswank
  • Archaic
9.9

Stylish in a way that shows upper-class manners

is more about modern showy impressiveness than old-fashioned class
dashy
vsswank
  • Informal
9.2

Attractive and stylish in a bold, showy way

is elegant and fashionable but often more controlled, less lively
kippy
vsswank
  • UK
9.9

Having bright, stylish clothes or decorations that look showy for parties

is more about polished elegance rather than casual liveliness

Antonyms

Few people wear it now because it is not in style

How Stylish

ostentatious
11 7.7
swank
4 7.7
stylish
85 2.0
smart
127 2.4
plain
50 2.5

Surface Forms

swank positive
swankier comparative
swankiest superlative

Etymology

Swank (adjective) is related to older words about proud movement and striking appearance, and a helpful picture is someone walking into a room like a swan, making an impressive entrance. That's why something swank looks 'fashionable and impressive'.