Tawdry

Pronunciation: /ˈtɔːdri/

Definitions of tawdry

adjective showy but cheap and of poor quality; morally low; base or vulgar

Example Sentences

A1 The tawdry costume jewelry was cheap and shiny.

A2 She bought a tawdry souvenir at the tourist shop.

B1 The tawdry decorations at the party made it look tacky.

B2 The tawdry display of wealth was off-putting to some guests.

C1 The tawdry gossip spread quickly through the small town.

C2 The tawdry tabloid articles were full of scandalous details.

Examples of tawdry in a Sentence

formal The tawdry decorations at the event did not reflect the elegance of the occasion.

informal I can't believe she bought that tawdry dress for the party.

slang That tawdry jewelry she's wearing looks so cheap.

figurative His tawdry behavior at the meeting was embarrassing for everyone involved.

Grammatical Forms of tawdry

• past tense: tawdried
• plural: tawdries
• comparative: more tawdry
• superlative: most tawdry
• present tense: tawdries
• future tense: will tawdry
• perfect tense: have tawdried
• continuous tense: is tawdrying
• singular: tawdry
• positive degree: tawdry
• infinitive: to tawdry
• gerund: tawdrying
• participle: tawdried

Origin and Evolution of tawdry

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'tawdry' originated from the phrase 'St. Audrey's lace', which referred to cheap lace sold at St. Audrey's fair in Ely, England.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'tawdry' evolved from describing cheap lace to meaning something showy but of poor quality or taste.