effusive

[ ih-fyoo-siv ]
See synonyms for: effusiveeffusiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve: effusive greetings; an effusive person.

  2. pouring out; overflowing.

Origin of effusive

1
First recorded in 1655–65; effuse + -ive

Other words from effusive

  • ef·fu·sive·ly, adverb
  • ef·fu·sive·ness, noun
  • non·ef·fu·sive, adjective
  • non·ef·fu·sive·ly, adverb
  • non·ef·fu·sive·ness, noun
  • o·ver·ef·fu·sive, adjective
  • o·ver·ef·fu·sive·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·ef·fu·sive·ness, noun
  • un·ef·fu·sive, adjective
  • un·ef·fu·sive·ly, adverb
  • un·ef·fu·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use effusive in a sentence

  • It would have been sheerly impossible to expect anything like effusiveness from Priscilla Gower.

    Theo | Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett
  • She snubbed effusiveness in a way that yet gave no interesting hint of any wish to keep it herself in reserve.

    The Tragic Muse | Henry James
  • From his well-known effusiveness, reticence under such circumstances is inconceivable.

    Byron | Richard Edgcumbe
  • Marie Louise tried to redeem her blunder by putting on an extra effusiveness for the sake of Mr. and Mrs. Norcross.

    The Cup of Fury | Rupert Hughes
  • This greeting, however, was too freezing for his effusiveness.

    Prisoner for Blasphemy | G. W. [George William] Foote

British Dictionary definitions for effusive

effusive

/ (ɪˈfjuːsɪv) /


adjective
  1. extravagantly demonstrative of emotion; gushing

  2. (of rock) formed by the solidification of magma

Derived forms of effusive

  • effusively, adverb
  • effusiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012