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Garishly Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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garishly

[หˆษกษ›rษชสƒli ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adverb

in a flashy or showy manner

Garishly is an adverb that describes something that is overly bright, colorful, or extravagant in a way that is considered tasteless or gaudy. It is often used to criticize something that is overly ostentatious or flamboyant.

Synonyms

flashily, gaudily, tastelessly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
garishly

Used when describing something that is excessively bright, showy, and perhaps a bit tacky. This usually carries a negative connotation.

  • The room was decorated garishly with fluorescent lights and neon signs.
  • She wore a garishly colored dress that hurt the eyes.
gaudily

Suggests excessive brightness or showiness, often implying a lack of good taste. This word generally has a negative connotation.

  • The room was gaudily decorated with gold and velvet.
  • She wore gaudily-colored makeup that didn't suit her.
flashily

Used to describe someone or something that is ostentatiously impressive or showy, often to attract attention. It can sometimes have a neutral or slightly negative connotation.

  • He arrived flashily in a bright red sports car.
  • The watch was flashily adorned with glittering diamonds.
tastelessly

Used to describe something done without consideration of good taste, often offensively or in poor judgment. This always carries a negative connotation.

  • The comedian told tastelessly offensive jokes.
  • The artist tastelessly combined clashing colors in the painting.

Examples of usage

  • They decorated the room garishly with neon lights and glitter.
  • The actress was dressed garishly in a sequined gown that clashed with the theme of the event.
  • The artwork was criticized for its garishly bright colors that seemed to clash with each other.
  • The party was garishly themed with over-the-top decorations and loud music.
  • The website was designed garishly with clashing colors and flashing animations.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Art & Design

  • In the art world, garish colors can sometimes be used intentionally to shock or grab attention in a work.
  • Fashion designers occasionally embrace garishness during runway shows to create memorable visual statements.
  • Pop art movement loved garish colors to contrast with the more muted tones of traditional art, changing perceptions of beauty.

Psychology

  • Bright and overpowering colors can lead to feelings of anxiety or discomfort, showing the psychological impact of garish designs.
  • Garish colors are often used in marketing to attract attention quickly, even if they might overwhelm the senses.
  • Studies in color psychology suggest that people often associate overly bright or unusual color combinations with a lack of sophistication.

Pop Culture

  • In many movies, characters who dress garishly are often portrayed as the comic relief or the quirky friend.
  • Certain music genres, like disco and punk, embraced garish aesthetics as a form of artistic expression, challenging societal norms.
  • Television shows often use garish set designs to highlight a character's wild or eccentric personality, making them memorable.

Fashion

  • Garish outfits are sometimes worn intentionally to make bold fashion statements, reflecting self-expression.
  • Various fashion trends over the decades, such as neon colors in the '80s, embraced garishness, influencing youth culture.
  • Some vintage clothing styles are considered garish today, showing how style perceptions change over time.

Origin of 'garishly'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from 'garnish', meaning to decorate, with the suffix '-ly' added to make it describe an action or manner.
  • It began being used in English around the 19th century, reflecting a time when fashion was becoming more loud and bold.
  • Originally, 'garish' meant something that was covered with gaudy ornaments, showing how its meaning has evolved over time.

The word 'garishly' originates from the Middle English word 'gari,' meaning showy or gaudy. Over time, it evolved to 'garish' and eventually 'garishly' in the English language. The concept of something being garish has been present in various cultures throughout history, often associated with excessive displays of wealth or tasteless extravagance.

See also: garish, garishness.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,593, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.