bedizened means dressed or ornamented in a gaudy, showy, or tasteless manner; ostentatious.
bedizened is pronounced /bɪˈdaɪz(ə)nd/.
Why “bedizened” is a great word
Over-adorned in a flashy, excessive, and aesthetically deficient manner. From the prefix be- (as an intensifier) + the obsolete verb dizen (meaning 'to deck out'), of uncertain origin, first attested in the early 18th century. Unlike 'ornamented,' which suggests appropriate or tasteful decoration, or 'elegant,' which implies refined simplicity, 'bedizened' is a judgment of aesthetic failure. It is the tawdry glint of cheap sequins under harsh light, the suffocating clutter of mismatched velvet and gilded plastic, or the sad, defiant sparkle on a fraying cuff—a declaration of abundance that, in its desperation, reveals only scarcity.
adj
- Dressed or ornamented in a gaudy, showy, or tasteless manner; ostentatious.e.g.“There was much whispering and plotting after she had gone in, a conference with some of the boys, and a handing over of bedizened pencils and chews of gum for value received.”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- bedizen 94% match — To dress or ornament (someone or something), especially in a gaudy, showy, or tasteless manner. vs bedizened →
- bedizenry 91% match — Showy or gaudy decorations or finery. vs bedizened →
- gaudy 86% match — Very showy or ornamented, now especially when excessive, or in a tasteless or vulgar manner. vs bedizened →
- peacockism 84% match — Gaudy ostentation; showiness. vs bedizened →
- ostentate 84% match — To make an ambitious display of; to exhibit or show boastingly. vs bedizened →
- dowdy 84% match — Plain and unfashionable in style or dress. vs bedizened →
- exornate 83% match — To embellish, adorn, decorate. vs bedizened →
- flamboyant 83% match — Showy, bold or audacious in behaviour, appearance, style, etc.; ostentatious. vs bedizened →