tawdry
UK: ˈtɔːdri | US: ˈtɔːdri
adj. 1. Showy but cheap and of poor quality; gaudy.
adj. 2. (archaic) Relating to or resembling cheap finery.
The word "tawdry" originates from the phrase "St. Audrey’s lace," referring to cheap, flashy necklaces sold at fairs in honor of St. Audrey (a 7th-century English saint). Over time, "St. Audrey’s lace" was shortened to "tawdry lace," and eventually, "tawdry" came to describe anything gaudy or cheaply ornamental. The morpheme "tawd" reflects this historical association with showy but low-quality items, while "-ry" functions as an adjective-forming suffix.
She wore a tawdry necklace that glittered under the dim lights.
The hotel’s decor was tawdry, with mismatched colors and plastic chandeliers.
He avoided buying tawdry souvenirs, preferring handmade crafts.
The play’s costumes looked tawdry under the harsh stage lights.
Critics dismissed the film as a tawdry attempt to exploit current trends.