How to Use ostentatious in a Sentence

ostentatious

adjective
  • Wear a hat too ostentatious and you’ll be ridiculed for the rest of your life.
    — Jessica Pan, The Cut, 17 May 2018
  • There is a proper way to serve tea and not be ostentatious about it.
    — John Kass, chicagotribune.com, 8 May 2021
  • No place else could match his blend of ostentatious and outlandish.
    — Matt Sedensky, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Apr. 2023
  • Some are the size of not-so-small houses, built by the wealthy and ostentatious of their day.
    — Brian E. Clark, latimes.com, 19 Sep. 2017
  • By taking up a quarter of the space in her car with her ostentatious hat.
    — Kinsey Jasnoch, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Why does City Hall need to be so big and ostentatious?
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
  • This plum tart is a dessert of a shyer order, less ostentatious than its flashy friends.
    — Melissa Clark, The Seattle Times, 11 Sep. 2018
  • This was a compact Rolls, meant to be easy to live with, not ostentatious.
    — Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Dell is not trying to be ostentatious.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Or to try to wear the biggest and most ostentatious clothes, anything to get noticed.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 21 May 2021
  • The only thing that set Mobutu apart was how ostentatious his theft was.
    — Herman J. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2014
  • Of course, there is the monogrammed version, for the fellas out there who aren't afraid to be ostentatious.
    — Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 5 Dec. 2022
  • Head crests or feathers, the key here seems to be that larger dinosaurs were also more ostentatious.
    — Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 28 Sep. 2016
  • The buildup has been slow and ostentatious, whereas a genuine invasion would be rapid and more covert.
    — NBC News, 14 Apr. 2021
  • The gangsters in this film were a lot less flashy and ostentatious than in other movies Marty has done.
    — Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2020
  • There were no ostentatious lobbies, no scene-y pool decks, and no pressure to perform wellness.
    — Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2026
  • The guests here are affluent but not ostentatious; their demeanor and dress are relaxed.
    — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The gimmicky new breed of ones loaded with ostentatious garnishes are even worse.
    — Aaron Goldfarb, Esquire, 15 May 2015
  • Don’t let the ostentatious title fool you; Swagger is deeper than the flash.
    — Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 25 May 2022
  • An ostentatious look wasn’t the only aspect that set it apart from the rest of the automaker’s lineup.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 8 Jan. 2024
  • Here, the decor is brighter and airier, leaning into refined beach-chic vibes more than ostentatious island tropes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 May 2026
  • Much of what’s in the show is the opposite of ostentatious or monumental.
    — New York Times, 3 Feb. 2022
  • The somewhat ostentatious Vivobook badge on the lid doesn't detract from its overall classy look.
    — PC Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
  • The piece is goofing on ostentatious displays of wealth, Diplo.
    — Vulture, 3 Dec. 2022
  • To me true luxury is not being ostentatious.
    — Ming Liu, Robb Report, 23 May 2026
  • At the end of the season, the winner will receive an ostentatious championship belt because why not.
    — Vulture Editors, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024
  • The '80s was a decade known for ostentatious decadence and luxury hotels were keen to please.
    — Cnt Editors, CNT, 5 Sep. 2017
  • London’s theft of a horse became part of a larger narrative of being flashy, ostentatious, too smart for his own good.
    — Bitter Kalli august 19, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Hyd tries to bring the listener close without being ostentatious.
    — H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 2 June 2026
  • Jay Gatsby’s ostentatious fortune failed to win the love of Daisy Buchanan.
    — Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ostentatious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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