What does 'showy but cheap' characterize?

The phrase "showy but cheap" accurately characterizes something that may be visually appealing or flashy but lacks quality or substance. This aligns well with the term tawdry, which is often used to describe items, styles, or behaviors that are ostentatious in appearance but lack genuine value or sophistication. Tawdry things might attract attention due to their flamboyant style, but upon closer inspection, they are often found to be of inferior quality.

In contrast, the other terms—premium, trendy, and lavish—carry different connotations. Premium suggests high quality, trendiness points to something currently in vogue without implying cheapness, and lavish denotes richness and luxury. Therefore, these alternatives do not encapsulate the notion of being "showy but cheap" as effectively as tawdry does.