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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of show off
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2025
Spiranac has been clear about working on her fitness goals and clapped back at a critic last week on X who was upset that the golfer was showing off a little more than what was in her golf bag.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 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
The same goes for the other two Corvette concepts GM is expected to show off in 2025.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2025
Spiranac has been clear about working on her fitness goals and clapped back at a critic last week on X who was upset that the golfer was showing off a little more than what was in her golf bag.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 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
-
Elsewhere, two boys, Frank and Alain, get up to assorted mischief, sneaking onto a baseball diamond at night or horsing around on railroad tracks, although there are hints that Frank’s family may leave Cuba soon.—
Ben Kenigsberg,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2025
-
In the video, Payne is shown horsing around with a large outdoor crowd and his bandmates, encouraging the fans to quiet their screaming and then raise the volume all the way back up.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The reporter noted that a framed photo of Prince Harry, 40, with his late mother, Princess Diana, was displayed nearby.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Asia Asian stocks have displayed a mixed performance throughout Wednesday's trading session.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Foster certainly replenished his coaching staff, hiring nine new assistants, including hotshot offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri.—
Ben Bolch,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2025
-
In Small Town, Big Story, Hendricks plays Wendy Patterson, a Hollywood hotshot producer who returns to her Irish hometown with a major film production only to shine a spotlight on a hidden secret.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Skrillex has never restricted his distension of sonic materials to merely supersizing his bass lines, and among other things, the voices on this album are routinely phased and retuned and cut up.—
Michaelangelo Matos,
Rolling Stone,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Here, Pulisic cuts up the left channel to offer a destination for a through ball.—
Jeff Rueter,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In February 2025, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed that food prices were up 3.2% year-over-year, with food away from home rising 4.5%—a clear indicator that even fast food is being reconsidered as an occasional indulgence.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
For the rest of the short teaser, Lord and Lady Grantham (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern) are shown walking around the grounds of the estate, touching bannisters and stone pillars with an air of finality.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Those who crave the thrill of a victory may embody the competitor. Bigger, bolder personalities may shine as jokers, always fooling around, or as storytellers, bringing imagination to life.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
23 Feb. 2025
-
While Mark and Helly were fooling around, Helly wasn’t fulfilling her promise to go get the directions Irving left tucked behind Dylan’s motivational poster.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
But neither show exhibited the growth curve of High Potential, which closed out its freshman season with series-high multiplatform ratings.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Threaten the rubber hand by attempting to stab it with a dagger, for instance, and the participants exhibit an involuntary startle or fear response.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share