tawdry

This term describes a specific kind of cheapness that attempts to look expensive but fails, resulting in a look that is loud, garish, and tasteless. It evokes an image of imitation jewelry or oversized, shiny decorations that signal a lack of refinement.

When applied to behavior or situations, the word shifts from visual gaudiness to moral decay. It suggests a sordid or sleazy quality, often used to describe scandals or private affairs that are exposed in a way that feels undignified and shameful.