1
as in to horse around
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
the athletes warmed up, happily showing off for the crowd before the match officially started
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to display
to present so as to invite notice or attention
she just wants to show off her new jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hotshot
informal + disapproving
a person who tries to impress other people with his or her abilities or possessions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of show off
Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 29 Apr. 2025
Starting in the 1960s when the event began being televised, hats and fascinators took center stage as the unofficial accessory of the race and a way to show off the creativity and care that goes into your Derby outfit.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2025
Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Brighton Beach can be a relentless show-off that way, your feelings be damned.
—Rachel Sonis, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for show off
Verb
Matthew Gray Gubler won’t be able to show off his big brain as CBS‘ Einstein for a while.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 29 Apr. 2025
Starting in the 1960s when the event began being televised, hats and fascinators took center stage as the unofficial accessory of the race and a way to show off the creativity and care that goes into your Derby outfit.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
This one-of-a-kind cultural exchange program invites visitors to come into the homes of vetted, welcoming locals, who are likewise looking to meet travelers and show-off what their country has to offer in a unique way — and maybe just make a few new lifelong friendships along the way.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Brighton Beach can be a relentless show-off that way, your feelings be damned.
—Rachel Sonis, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for show off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for show off
Verb
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Four people are facing charges in Louisiana for horsing around in a small-town Walmart last week. Video that was posted on TikTok and went viral on social media showed three men and a teenage boy riding horses through the business in Baker, Louisiana.—
Elizabeth Pritchett,
FOXNews.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Quit horsing around — the Clydesdales are back!—
Breanne L. Heldman,
People.com,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Federal authorities allege Cui and Miller paid two other people about $36,500 to convince the victim not to display the statues.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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The soon-to-be 23-year-old displayed impressive contact balance and routinely churned out additional yards after being hit, but his workload in college (879 carries in five years) raises questions about his long-term outlook in the NFL. 191.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Founded by early Facebook investor Ali Partovi, Neo has made big bets on founders of hotshot AI startups Pika and Anysphere, the company behind coding tool Cursor.—
Richard Nieva,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Suddenly, the glossy, eminently bingeable legal drama — which centered around hotshot corporate attorney Harvey’s decision to hire brilliant college dropout Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) as his new associate, and the inevitable cover-up and fallout from their long con — got a new lease on life.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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So the final suit cuts up around his neck, and the floral embellishment on his clothes ties him into all of that.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2025
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Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/4 cup each shortening and cold butter, cut up, until pieces are pea size.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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An online database that tracks ship movements shows the Mohawk has been docked in its home port since mid-March.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2025
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Text messages sent in the hours leading up to O’Keefe’s death read aloud to the court by a Massachusetts state trooper show the couple were at a strained point in their relationship.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As Molly and Guy start to fool around, things get hot and heavy, but Ernie has a job to do.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
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As Molly and Guy start to fool around, things get hot and heavy, but Ernie has a job to do.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Michael Bolton, who was diagnosed in December 2023 with glioblastoma — the most aggressive and fastest-growing form of brain cancer — first exhibited signs that something was amiss the month prior, according to his daughters.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
3 May 2025
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Zinc chloride, which the researchers detected in a toxicological analysis, exhibits a powerful drying effect.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
2 May 2025
Noun
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The wise guys that summarily swooped him up were rewarded with 10 multiple-TD games and a QB8 finish on the year.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2025
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Swaggering ex-con Sullivan’s conscience manifests in the form of Father Jerry Connolly (Pat O’Brien), the childhood friend turned cleric who does his best to keep the wise guys in line and set another example for the lovable, mischievous Dead End Kids.—
Mike Barnes,
The Hollywood Reporter,
17 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Show off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/show%20off. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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