effusive
Americanadjective
-
unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve.
effusive greetings; an effusive person.
-
pouring out; overflowing.
-
Geology. extrusive.
adjective
-
extravagantly demonstrative of emotion; gushing
-
(of rock) formed by the solidification of magma
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of effusive
Explanation
Getting a compliment from your effusive Aunt Sally can be a little embarrassing. Since she's so effusive, Aunt Sally holds nothing back, gushing with enthusiasm. The adjective effusive means "extravagantly demonstrative," and if you know someone who expresses positive emotions in a heartfelt, bubbly way, you understand just what the word means. The word effusive has a surprisingly similar definition in geology; it describes a particular kind of volcanic eruption, one in which lava bubbles up out of the volcano and flows around it.
Vocabulary lists containing effusive
ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 8
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Why, then, has the response to “Obsession” been so effusive?
From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026
Raw when he needed storm or battle; extra excited when Valkyries cavorted with horses; effusive when emotion took over senses; tender when morality mattered.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Trump called in with an effusive message.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
Bernstein’s Stacy Rasgon was less effusive, calling the results “decent.”
From MarketWatch • Jan. 27, 2026
She had been carefully trained by her upbringing, she said, to avoid effusive displays of feeling, but this did not mean her heart was shallow.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
