Splashy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈsplæʃi/

Definitions

1. Making a loud impact or attracting much attention, or characterized by bright colors and bold visual effects
2. Having vivid colors or effects that draw attention ; displaying a style that is flashy or extravagant
3. Characterized by striking visual brightness meant to captivate ; exhibiting a bold and flamboyant manner

Etymology: "Splashy" is simply "splash" with the suffix "-y" added, meaning "characterized by" or "having the qualities of." The "-y" ending has a long pedigree in English: it traces back through Old English "-ig" and Middle English "-y" to a Proto-Germanic suffix, and it has been attached to nouns and verbs to form adjectives for centuries. The base word "splash" is the more imitative of the two. Its sound mirrors the thing it names, the noisy spattering of liquid, which is why so many English words built on the same "spl-" pattern (splatter, splodge, spludge) carry a similar sense of wet, forceful disruption. The adjective took on its current figurative senses by extension. A splashy performance, headline, or color scheme is one that makes a noisy, conspicuous impact, much as a splash of water draws the eye and ears. The move from liquid spattering to attention-grabbing display is a natural one: a loud splash is hard to ignore.

Synonyms: showy, ostentatious, flamboyant

Antonyms: subdued, understated, plain