flowery

American  

[flou-uh-ree] / ˈflaʊ ə ri /

adjective

flowerier, floweriest

1. covered with or having many flowers.

2. decorated with floral designs.

3. rhetorically ornate or precious.

   flowery language.

   Synonyms:

   elaborate, showy, florid

4. resembling a flower in fragrance.

   a Rhine wine with a flowery aroma.

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flowery British  

/ ˈflaʊərɪ /

adjective

1. abounding in flowers

2. decorated with flowers or floral patterns

3. like or suggestive of flowers

   a flowery scent

4. (of language or style) elaborate; ornate

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Related Words

See bombastic.

Other Word Forms

• flowerily adverb
• floweriness noun
• unflowery adjective

Etymology

Origin of flowery

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; flower, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Blume didn’t begin to try to write professionally until she was a married mother of two and some have criticized her work for not being as flowery and polished as others’.

From Los Angeles Times

It had a flowery print of roses and looked like a summer dress.

From Literature

Mr. Mauch’s prose is not flowery, but direct, single-minded and determined, like the man himself.

From The Wall Street Journal

“She is yonder, by the river’s edge,” replied Magic, a little too flowery in my opinion.

From Literature

He took a final steadying breath and walked past a group of women in flowery skirts and several college-aged kids who looked like they hadn’t slept in days.

From Literature