extravagantly bright or showy, typically as to be tasteless
example
The gaudy decorations at the party made it feel more like a circus than a celebration.
synonyms
tackyostentatiousgarish
word origin — From the Middle English word 'gaudie', meaning 'showy or ostentatious', derived from the Latin word 'gaudium', meaning 'joy or delight'.
SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 229
Set 229 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: gaudy, humdrum, acrimonious, halfhearted, uncharacteristic. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
gaudy · adjective/ˈɡɔ.di/
extravagantly bright or showy, typically as to be tasteless
The gaudy decorations at the party made it feel more like a circus than a celebration.
Synonyms: tacky, ostentatious, garish
Origin: From the Middle English word 'gaudie', meaning 'showy or ostentatious', derived from the Latin word 'gaudium', meaning 'joy or delight'.
humdrum · adjective/ˈhʌm.drʌm/
dull and monotonous
After years of working in a humdrum job, she decided it was time to pursue her passion for art.
Synonyms: dull, mundane, boring
Origin: The word 'humdrum' is of imitative origin, possibly deriving from 'hum' (to make a low continuous sound) and 'drum' (a percussive instrument), suggesting a repetitive, monotonous sound.
acrimonious · adjective/ˌækrɪˈmoʊ.ni.əs/
angry and bitter in speech or tone
The meeting ended with an acrimonious exchange of insults between the two rival factions.
Synonyms: bitter, resentful, hostile
Origin: from Latin 'acri- (sharp, bitter) + -monious (of or relating to)'.
halfhearted · adjective/ˌhæfˈhɑrtɪd/
lacking enthusiasm or effort
Her halfhearted attempt to clean the house left it looking just as messy as before.
Synonyms: unenthusiastic, indifferent, apathetic
Origin: The term 'halfhearted' is a compound word formed from 'half' and 'hearted', symbolizing a lack of full commitment or enthusiasm.
uncharacteristic · adjective/ʌnˌkɛrɪkˈtɪrɪstɪk/
not typical of a particular person or thing
His uncharacteristic behavior during the meeting surprised everyone who knew him well.
Synonyms: atypical, unusual, untypical
Origin: The word uncharacteristic is formed from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'characteristic,' which derives from the Greek word 'charakter' meaning 'a stamp, mark, or engraving.'