lavish

[ lav-ish ]

adjective

1. expended, bestowed, or occurring in profusion:

   lavish spending.

   Synonyms: wild, unrestrained, wasteful, unreasonable, thriftless, intemperate, improvident, immoderate, extravagant, excessive

   Antonyms: meager, sparing

2. using or giving in great amounts; prodigal (often followed by of ):

   lavish of his time;

   lavish of affection.

   Synonyms: unsparing, openhanded, munificent, liberal, free, effusive, bountiful, generous

   Antonyms: tight-fisted, tight, stingy, parsimonious, miserly, cheap

verb (used with object)

1. to expend or give in great amounts or without limit:

   to lavish gifts on a person.

   Synonyms: dissipate, squander, waste, shower, heap

   Antonyms: withhold, stint, begrudge

lavish

/ ˈlævɪʃ /

adjective

1. prolific, abundant, or profuse
2. generous; unstinting; liberal
3. extravagant; prodigal; wasteful

   lavish expenditure

verb

1. tr to give, expend, or apply abundantly, generously, or in profusion

Derived Forms

• ˈlavisher, noun
• ˈlavishment, noun
• ˈlavishly, adverb
• ˈlavishness, noun

Other Words From

• lav·ish·er noun
• lav·ish·ly adverb
• lav·ish·ness noun
• o·ver·lav·ish adjective
• o·ver·lav·ish·ness noun
• un·lav·ish adjective
• un·lav·ished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lavish¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English lavas “profusion” (noun), “profuse” (adjective), from Middle French lavasse, lavache “downpour of rain,” derivative of laver “to wash,” from Latin lavāre

Word History and Origins

Origin of lavish¹

C15: adj use of lavas profusion, from Old French lavasse torrent, from Latin lavāre to wash

Synonym Study

Lavish, prodigal, profuse refer to that which exists in abundance and is poured out copiously. Lavish suggests (sometimes excessive) generosity and openhandedness: lavish hospitality; much too lavish. Prodigal suggests wastefulness, improvidence, and reckless impatience of restraint: a prodigal extravagance. Profuse emphasizes abundance, but may suggest overemotionalism, exaggeration, or the like: profuse thanks, compliments, apologies.

Example Sentences

Of course, it could be hard to see that logic through all the lavish weirdness of the proposal.

From The Daily Beast

Lobbyists use these trips to lavish bounty on Congressmen, far from prying eyes.

From The Daily Beast

The Kardashians paid more than $400,000 to rent out the lavish grounds.

From The Daily Beast

The train is lavish in a rich cream color and measures 11.8 feet.

From The Daily Beast

The lavish parties were part of his cover, and after his arrest by the Egyptians he earned the nickname “the Champagne Spy.”

From The Daily Beast

In New York he was much impressed with the "elegant country seats," with the bountiful hospitality, and the lavish way of living.

From Project Gutenberg

Little patches may be seen near their huts, on which they lavish their attention and care.

From Project Gutenberg

The critics were fulsome in their praise and the public was lavish with its plaudits, but I was abjectly miserable.

From Project Gutenberg

The place lies high and in the open, and lacks the lavish shade of the more protected New England villages.

From Project Gutenberg

Dazzled by the more lavish gifts, she looked listlessly and disdainfully at bodkins, three for twopence.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bountiful
• effusive
• excessive
• extravagant
• exuberant
• generous
• gorgeous
• grand
• lush
• luxurious
• opulent
• plush
• posh
• profligate
• ritzy
• sumptuous
• swanky
• wasteful