Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ostentatious

/ˌɒs.tɛnˈteɪ.ʃəs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.68 in modern English

Syllables: os-ten-ta-tious
IPA: /ˌɒs.tɛnˈteɪ.ʃəs/

12

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Of ostentation.

adj

Intended to attract notice.

adj

Of tawdry display; kitsch.

Example Sentences

"Over the course of the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin has drawn several “red lines” – with ostentatious references to Russia’s huge strategic nuclear arsenal – only to seemingly do nothing when these lines are crossed by Ukraine or its Western backers."

Etymology

Originated 1590; from Latin ostentātus + -ious.

Word Breakdown

Prefix: la:ostentātus
Suffix: -ious

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌɒs.tɛnˈteɪ.ʃəs/

Inflected Forms

more ostentatious (comparative) most ostentatious (superlative)

Derived Forms

nonostentatious ostentatiously ostentatiousness unostentatious

Frequently Paired Words

ostensible ostensive

Synonyms

gaudy pretentious

Rhymes With

gracious spacious tenacious audacious ignatius herbaceous voracious flirtatious vivacious fallacious efficacious salacious

Questions

How do you pronounce ostentatious?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌɒs.tɛnˈteɪ.ʃəs/.
What does ostentatious mean?: Of ostentation.
Where does ostentatious come from?: Originated 1590; from Latin ostentātus + -ious.

How to pronounce ostentatious

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ostentatious”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌɒs.tɛnˈteɪ.ʃəs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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