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flamboyance

flamboyance

4 7.7
A very bright and fancy style that attracts attention in dress or manner
  • noun
  • /flæmˈbɔɪəns/
translation icon : flamboyancia
  • The fashion designer's collection was full of flamboyance, featuring bright colors and extravagant patterns.
  • natural flamboyance
  • add flamboyance

Examples

  • Many students—not all, to be sure—find that they delight in the bluntness, the flamboyance, and the daring of Machiavelli.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Thus, the elegant Leyla Doruk added passion and flamboyance to her version of the story of the meek Fanny Price, trembling and sickly in the deepest English wooded countryside.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The flamboyance that you and everybody else see is a political statement.

  • Time for some of that American flamboyance.

  • The local media loved a certain flamboyance even in its public servants.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The de la Solas built this home for comfort, not flamboyance.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • In a separate press conference, the director said Bardem brought the right mix of flamboyance and realness to the role.

    Blog text (32)
  • Well, Duke, I don't believe in ostentatious flamboyance.

  • Nimoy's subtlety plays well against Shatner's flamboyance, and their banter is the stuff of comedy.

    Blog text (27)
  • His natural, low-key performance acts to balance Skinner's flamboyance and Lily's coping mechanisms.

    Blog text (34)

Synonyms

glitz
vsflamboyance
19 7.5

Flashy style that looks nice but is not deep

leans more toward artistic extravagance rather than surface glamour alone
showboating
vsflamboyance
  • Informal
5 6.3

An act of trying to get attention by doing dramatic moves

is a quality of dramatic appearance rather than specifically performative acts
extravagance
vsflamboyance
3 7.0

Being more extreme than normal in words or actions

focuses on striking, elaborate looks rather than excess in all areas
ostentation
vsflamboyance
3 8.5

An act of showing off money or achievements to get attention

focuses on bold, elaborate appearance rather than chiefly proving status
exhibitionism
vsflamboyance
2 8.1

Doing dramatic things to get attention or praise

is about a bold visual or stylistic quality rather than only attention seeking behavior
grandiosity
vsflamboyance
  • Literature
1 8.6

Speech or writing that is too fancy and feels overdone

is more about bold, showy appearance than about pompous tone
flashiness
vsflamboyance
1 5.6

A bright, showy style that attracts attention and looks cheap

is more theatrical and artistically bold rather than merely tasteless
foppery
vsflamboyance
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Foolish or excessive concern with clothes and how you look

focuses on striking, elaborate presence rather than vanity about trends
showiness
vsflamboyance
1 6.5

A style that is very bright or richly decorated to attract attention

is similar but stresses dramatic, striking style over mere notice seeking
garishness
vsflamboyance
1 7.5

Things that are very bright or flashy and look unpleasant

emphasizes dramatic elaborate style rather than only harsh color choices
fanciness
vsflamboyance
1 4.0

A decorative, stylish appearance that seems expensive

is more vivid and attention seeking rather than merely decorative
ostentatiousness
vsflamboyance
9.1

A way of behaving that shows off wealth or style to impress others

is primarily about striking elaborate style rather than deliberate vanity display
frilliness
vsflamboyance
7.2

A lot of extra decoration that looks showy

is broader, covering bold extravagance beyond just excess decoration
floridness
vsflamboyance
  • Formal
8.9

The use of very fancy, detailed language or style that feels too much

leans more toward visual or mannerly extravagance than only ornate language
floridity
vsflamboyance
  • Formal
9.9

A style of writing or speaking that uses many extra, fancy words

covers vivid outward style and appearance rather than just language
ornateness
vsflamboyance
7.7

A thing or style with many decorative details

adds sense of being striking and attention grabbing beyond mere decoration
splashiness
vsflamboyance
7.2

A quality of being showy and loud in style that hides simple beauty

is similar but stresses striking, elaborate flair rather than cheap spectacle
fabulosity
vsflamboyance
  • Slang
9.0

A very stylish and impressive appearance that draws attention

is more about bold, showy extravagance than purely positive impressiveness
swankiness
vsflamboyance
7.2

A stylish, expensive look that shows someone is rich

often involves more striking theatricality rather than quiet luxury
swellness
vsflamboyance
  • Archaic
8.4

A stylish, impressive appearance that shows wealth or good taste

is stronger and more dramatically extravagant rather than simply stylish

How Showy

ostentation
3 8.5
flashiness
1 5.6
flamboyance
4 7.7
restraint
6 4.2
plainness
1 3.5

Surface Forms

flamboyance singular
flamboyances plural

Morphology

flamboyance = flamboyant (transparent) = flamboyant + ance

Formed by the noun-forming suffix '-ance' added to the adjective 'flamboyant', directly expressing the quality of being flamboyant.

Etymology

Flamboyance comes from the French word flamboyant, which meant 'flaming' and is like the English word flame, so you can picture bright fire and colour. That's why flamboyance describes a showy, dramatic style that grabs attention.