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
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Recent Examples of show off
Law Murray, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
At camp, mom Paola showed off her ring with likenesses of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift on it.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2025
Rachel Sonis, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
Every single day, the full sun is, like, in full show-off mode and gets swallowed up by the sea.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for show off 
Verb
We’re left with Council hopefully getting a chance to show off his explosiveness.
—Law Murray, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
At camp, mom Paola showed off her ring with likenesses of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift on it.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
Brighton Beach can be a relentless show-off that way, your feelings be damned.
—Rachel Sonis, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
Every single day, the full sun is, like, in full show-off mode and gets swallowed up by the sea.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for show off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for show off
Verb
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The unidentified pre-teen was horsing around and throwing snowballs in Connecticut’s capital city with an 11-year-old friend, local ABC affiliate WTNH reported.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2025
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Among racing’s many problems is that there are no dedicated air shipping companies that make moving horses around the country easy.—
John Cherwa,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Sailors displayed the highest levels of teamwork, adaptability, and courage—qualities that make our Navy the finest in the world.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
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Much of the opposition comes from Democrats, but Republicans display some ambivalence as well.—
Amelia Thomson-Deveaux,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Wildland firefighters in a hotshot crew from near Klamath, Oregon, search the ruins of houses destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Jan. 10, 2025.—
Laura Doan,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2025
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From co-creators Powell and Michael Waldron, the half-hour comedy follows hotshot quarterback Russ Holliday (Powell), whose bad behavior hurts his college career.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes,
28 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Egg cartons can be cut up, painted, decorated, and glued to be turned into animals, flowers, containers, and whatever else children can dream up.—
Rabekah Henderson,
Southern Living,
19 Jan. 2025
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Any footage cut up and put on YouTube or social networks like X, Bluesky and TikTok will get copyright-striked and taken down in short order, whether it is posted by a player who wants to reach their own fans or a fan just having some fun as part of the online tennis community.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Images from the scene show Lancaster Township Fire Department surrounding the two-story house as smoke billows from the roof, firefighters swarming the inside and outside of the structure.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
20 Jan. 2025
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Biden showed the note to some members of his staff after his inauguration in 2021 but didn’t let anyone read it.—
Darlene Superville,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Oklahoma fooled around with Houston long enough to escape with a narrow 16-12 win.—
Chase Goodbread,
The Tennessean,
18 Sep. 2024
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While the siblings have the habit of getting into troubles and to only use their creative skills to fool around, Michael sees in them a real talent.—
Maelle Beauget-Uhl,
Forbes,
5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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According to Newsweek, toxic family members often exhibit controlling or manipulative behavior, sometimes reacting with extreme hostility over minor disputes.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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Good sleepers are those individuals who exhibit optimal sleep patterns, which include regular sleep cycles with low levels of daytime tiredness.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
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Tennessee is currently a 2.5-point favorite, an indication the wise guys believe Love is unlikely to play.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes,
20 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near show off
Cite this Entry
“Show off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/show%20off. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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