gilded
Covered thinly with gold leaf or gold paint; (figurative) having a specious or deceptive charm.
Literally means covered in gold, suggesting luxury and expense. Figuratively, it can imply a superficial attractiveness that hides something less appealing underneath.
Word relationships
- ornate: Elaborately decorated, but not necessarily with gold.
- decorated: More general, simply meaning 'adorned'.
- ostentatious: Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress.
- plain: Not decorated or elaborate; simple or ordinary in character.
- unadorned: Not adorned; plain.
Commonly confused with
- golden: 'Golden' means made of gold or gold-colored. 'Gilded' specifically means covered with a thin layer of gold, often implying a superficial application.
Word family
- gild (verb): To cover thinly with gold.
Collocations
- gilded cage
- gilded age
- gilded frame
- gilded mirror
- gilded youth
Idioms & expressions
- gild the lily
Example sentences
- "The ancient temple featured a magnificent gilded dome that shimmered in the sunlight." Art and architecture
- "Beneath the gilded facade of wealth, the family faced deep-seated financial troubles." Figurative social commentary
- "The 'Gilded Age' in American history was characterized by rapid economic growth but also significant social inequality." Historical period
Memory hook
A 'GILDED' object has a 'GOLD' layer, often hiding something less valuable. GOLD LAYER
When not to use
Do not use 'gilded' for something that is simply gold in color or made of solid gold. It specifically refers to a thin layer of gold applied to a surface. In its figurative sense, use it when you want to imply a deceptive or superficial elegance.
Fun facts
- The idiom 'to gild the lily' means to adorn something that is already beautiful or perfect, thus spoiling it. It comes from Shakespeare's 'King John'.
Explore more words
specious, genteel, glib, pretentious, picturesque, resplendent
Also appears in
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