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swanky

swanky

18 7.4
Very stylish and expensive-looking, like a fancy car or hotel
  • adjective
  • /ˈswæŋki/
  • Informal
translation icon : lujoso
  • She wore a swanky dress that turned heads at the party.

Beyond lights turned down, you could barely see the person's great kind of swanky music.

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Examples

  • As proof, I recalled a dinner at a swanky restaurant in Oxford.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • It's a pretty big wedding at a swanky location with lots of people.

    Blog text (25)
  • I really could imagine this in a swanky flat somewhere.

  • Getting to come to these swanky dinner parties?

  • It's a real swanky place.

  • A private car took me from the airport to a swanky private college.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Big, swanky place for the carriage trade.

  • Oh, a developer is building a swanky resort.

  • Make sure you don't leave without stopping for a drink at the very swanky rooftop Portrait Restaurant and Bar.

    Blog text (11)
  • New additions include an outdoor gaming area and a swanky cocktail lounge with an eye-catching mosaic-tiled bar.

    Blog text (2)

Synonyms

fancy
vsswanky
497 2.7

Decorative and not plain, often with many small details

adds the idea of imposing fashionable elegance that seeks public admiration
classy
vsswanky
133 4.1

Being elegant and stylish and showing good taste

is more about impressive, ostentatious elegance than simple refinement
stylish
vsswanky
85 2.0

Clothes or rooms that look fashionable and attractive

leans toward imposing, attention seeking elegance rather than tasteful restraint
flashy
vsswanky
69 4.1

Very bright or showy in a way that attracts attention

favours imposing fashionable elegance while avoiding outright vulgarity
chic
vsswanky
57 3.5

Elegant and fashionable in a simple, modern way

is more imposing and suggests ostentation rather than plain tastefulness
posh
vsswanky
  • Informal
38 6.9

Expensive and stylish in a way that rich people like

is more about dramatic, attention seeking elegance than mere upper-class style
high-class
vsswanky
20 5.8

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

is more about imposing fashion that openly shows ostentation
snappy
vsswanky
  • Informal
17 3.8

Stylish and neat in appearance, often because of clothes or hair

is more about grandeur and attention drawing elegance than neat style
spiffy
vsswanky
  • Informal
16 7.8

Neat and stylish in appearance

is more imposing, ostentatious elegance rather than merely smart neatness
snazzy
vsswanky
  • Informal
15 7.2

Bright and stylish in a way that draws attention

is more imposing and elegant rather than merely flashy attractiveness
opulent
vsswanky
15 7.7

Very rich and expensive in a way that shows great wealth

focuses on stylish imposing elegance rather than only wealth display
glitzy
vsswanky
13 4.8

A bright, showy look that tries to impress people

keeps a stronger sense of elegance and lasting impression rather than surface shine
dressy
vsswanky
12 3.6

Suitable for formal events like a wedding or party

is more about imposing, attention grabbing elegance than simple formality
showy
vsswanky
8 3.2

Bright or fancy in a way that draws attention

keeps elegance and fashion focus while also being imposing and ostentatious
ritzy
vsswanky
  • Informal
7 7.5

Expensive and fashionable, showing that someone has money

is more about imposing, attention drawing elegance rather than just expense
swank
vsswanky
4 7.7

Fashionable and showy in a way that seems rich

is nearly identical and stresses imposing elegance that draws attention
jazzy
vsswanky
3 6.3

Bright and showy in style to attract attention

leans toward imposing elegance and fashionable presence rather than loud showiness
high-toned
vsswanky
1 8.7

Very fancy in a way that tries to impress people

is less pretentious and more about imposing, attention getting elegance
swish
vsswanky
  • UK
1 7.2

Being stylish and looking expensive

is bolder and more ostentatious, aiming to impress publicly
schmancy
vsswanky
  • Informal
1 9.6

Looking expensive or stylish in a showy, joking way

is serious imposing elegance that actually aims to impress rather than joke
plushy
vsswanky
6.5

Rich, comfortable, and clearly expensive

stresses imposing fashionable elegance and public attention rather than pure extravagance
fancy as all get-out
vsswanky
  • Informal
9.9

Looks very expensive to impress people

is imposing elegance that draws attention but is less extreme
poshy
vsswanky
  • UK
9.9

Being fancy and expensive, liked by rich people

is more about imposing, ostentatious elegance that draws attention
tonish
vsswanky
  • Archaic
9.9

Stylish in a way that shows upper-class manners

leans more toward imposing, showy elegance rather than vintage upper-classness
dandyish
vsswanky
9.1

Very careful about clothes and manners in a showy way

is more imposing and attention seeking rather than merely self conscious style
haute
vsswanky
8.3

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

emphasizes imposing, ostentatious elegance that draws public attention
dashy
vsswanky
  • Informal
9.2

Attractive and stylish in a bold, showy way

leans more to formal, imposing elegance that seeks public admiration
kippy
vsswanky
  • UK
9.9

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

is more formally imposing and aims to attract high status attention
hotsy-totsy
vsswanky
  • Archaic
9.9

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

is more about imposing elegance and ostentation than playful style
nobby
vsswanky
  • UK
9.9

A person who dresses stylishly to show wealth or high social class

is more about public, imposing elegance than merely upper class dress

Antonyms

20 3.5

Being ordinary and not interesting

Few people wear it now because it is not in style

How Stylish

ostentatious
11 7.7
swanky
  • Informal
18 7.4
stylish
85 2.0
smart
127 2.4
plain
50 2.5

Surface Forms

swanky positive
swankier comparative
swankiest superlative

Morphology

swanky = swank (transparent) = swank + y

Standard adjectival formation from 'swank' with the suffix '-y'; the meaning is directly 'characterized by swank' and thus predictable.

Etymology

The word swanky comes from the old slang swank, which meant 'to show off' or 'be proud' and is like the common word swagger. So something swanky is stylish in a way that shows off and tries to impress people.