gewgaw
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈɡjuːˌɡɔː/
- Archaic
- The gift shop was filled with colorful gewgaws that caught the eye of every visitor.
Examples
-
I quickly knew I'd give him all my leftover shekels and not bother splurging at the airport tomorrow on the useless gewgaws of duty-free shops.
Fiction book (1991) -
Juice box? - What you gonna do? - I've got exactly six hours... to hit every doodad, gewgaw and tchotchke shop in town.
-
That's just a gewgaw, plain and simple, a bauble, a trinket, a trifle.
Fiction book (2000) -
Old Silas seldom came to the settlements anymore, and then only to buy gewgaws for his woman, whiskey, traps, and supplies.
Fiction book (1994) -
As Marvin talks on the phone, he unconsciously adjusts the already meticulously placed gewgaws on his desk.
Fiction book (1991) -
She decorated her room with various gewgaws that reflected her eclectic taste.
-
Despite their shiny appearance, the gewgaws on the shelf were just cheap imitations.
Synonyms
40
3.5
A small cheap object that people keep for decoration or as a gift
26
3.9
A small, cheap object bought as a gift or souvenir
14
4.2
A small cheap object people keep to decorate a home
13
6.7
A small, cheap piece of jewelry worn for decoration
1
9.9
A showy decoration that is not needed and looks too fancy
1
9.9
Cheap objects that look nice but have little value
1
9.9
A small cheap shiny decoration worn on clothing
1
9.9
Small decorative things that have little value
A small, cheap bright decoration that people wear on clothing or hats
Antonyms
How Valuable
Surface Forms
Etymology
Gewgaw probably comes from a playful repetition of tiny sounds, like gew + gaw, used long ago for a small 'toy' or 'trinket'. So a gewgaw today is a small, showy ornament that looks pretty but is often of little value.