tawdry

USAGE SUMMARY

"tawdry" is a correct and usable word in written English.
The word "tawdry" means "tastelessly showy," so you can use it when describing something that is of poor quality, but has been made to look flashy as a way to deceive. Example sentence: "The tawdry décor of the restaurant did not live up to its bold claims of luxury dining."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Others basked in a wave of optimism, this being the best scheme to come out of a tawdry saga of ill-conceived visions that has dragged on for the past quarter of a century.

The Guardian - Arts

A dozen roses, as well, to CNN debate moderator John King for presenting the opportunity for Newt to take the media to task for leading with the tawdry and intensely private, in a scorching takedown at Thursday night's debate that's been running as a replay loop on television, and becoming an internet sensation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Here are the domestic "consequences" of Mr Buchan's subtitle these and an Islamic republic that still glares at the West, even though many of those early values have become tawdry and debased.For the rest of the world, as he writes, a spot of local bother turned out to be "one of those events in which history changes direction".

The Economist

After the tawdry saga, this biography by Frances Kiernan, a former editor at the New Yorker, goes some way towards restoring Mrs Astor to her throne.Like the best American heroines, Mrs Astor had relatively modest beginnings.

The Economist

Affording the same status to the publishing of the Heartland Institute's alleged tawdry secrets would be unwise.

The Economist

In an era when politics has degenerated into tawdry glitz, Canada seems to have bucked the trend.

The Economist

Even as they were trumpeting the things in public, they were trashing them in private, often in scatological terms.The "global settlement" between America's securities regulators and ten investment banks unveiled in Washington on April 28th is supposed to draw a line under this tawdry chapter in Wall Street history (see article).

The Economist

With a wry touch, Mark Leibovich, a journalist with the New York Times Magazine, chronicles the tawdry work of Washington's insiders and aspiring insiders.

The Economist

In theory it sets him above the tawdry goings-on of daily politics (indeed, it makes him look presidential), while leaving Mr Chirac's reputation to be stained by every new leak from the judiciary.

The Economist

But in the 2008 campaign Mr Obama was the outsider running against George Bush and the tawdry ways of Washington.

The Economist

With beefcake poses, transcripts of tawdry texts and graphic pictures of his private parts all over the internet, Mr Weiner's standing had similarly disappeared.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing attire or decor, use "tawdry" to convey a sense of cheapness disguised by a flashy appearance. For example: "The singer's dress was a "tawdry" attempt to look glamorous."

Common error

Avoid using "tawdry" when you simply mean something is fashionable or currently popular. "Tawdry" carries a negative connotation of cheapness and poor taste, unlike "trendy" which implies current style. For instance, instead of saying "Her outfit was so "tawdry"", try "Her outfit was so trendy!"

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "tawdry" is as an adjective. It is used to modify nouns, describing them as cheap, gaudy, or of poor quality. As per Ludwig, it indicates something is tastelessly showy. Many examples available in Ludwig showcase this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "tawdry" functions as an adjective denoting something cheap, gaudy, and of poor quality. It's grammatically sound and, as Ludwig AI confirms, a correct and usable term. Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to express criticism of items or situations that are distastefully showy. Common synonyms include "gaudy", "cheap and flashy", and "vulgar". Use "tawdry" when you want to convey a sense of something being cheap while trying to appear attractive, avoiding confusion with terms like "trendy" which simply indicate current fashion. Remember to be clear about what you are trying to convey: a criticism with bad taste or just mere fashion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gaudy

Similar meaning; focuses more on the excessive ornamentation.

cheap and gaudy

Combines the aspects of low cost and ostentatious display.

cheap and flashy

More descriptive, breaking down the core components of the meaning.

showy and vulgar

Emphasizes the lack of taste and refinement.

tasteless

Focuses on the lack of aesthetic appeal or good judgement.

gimcrack

Highlights the cheap and often deceptive nature of the item.

meretricious

Emphasizes the falseness and deceptiveness of the apparent value.

shoddy

Focuses primarily on the poor quality and workmanship.

trashy

Implies a lack of sophistication and refinement.

ostentatious

Highlights the excessive display intended to impress.

FAQs

How can I use "tawdry" in a sentence?

Use "tawdry" to describe something cheap and of poor quality, but made to look attractive or showy. Example: The "tawdry" decorations failed to hide the room's underlying shabbiness.

What's a good alternative to the word "tawdry"?

Alternatives to "tawdry" include "gaudy", "cheap and flashy", or "vulgar", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to describe a person as "tawdry"?

While "tawdry" primarily describes objects or appearances, it can metaphorically describe a person's behavior or character if it's characterized by cheapness, showiness, or lack of taste. Use caution, as it can be quite harsh.

What is the difference between "tawdry" and "shoddy"?

"Tawdry" implies something is cheap and showy, while "shoddy" refers to something poorly made or of low quality. Something can be shoddy without being tawdry, and vice versa.