flowery
Americanadjective
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abounding in flowers
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decorated with flowers or floral patterns
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like or suggestive of flowers
a flowery scent
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(of language or style) elaborate; ornate
Synonym Usage
See bombastic.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of flowery
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at flower, -y 1
Explanation
Something flowery either looks, smells, or feels like flowers. You might wear flowery perfume or write a flowery poem starting with "Roses are red..." However, flowery is not a compliment when it comes to writing. If a blanket has a lot of pictures of flowers on it, it's flowery. If a scent reminds you of flowers, it's flowery. Flowery things make you think of flowers in some way. Also, flowery things are full of intricate details, maybe a little too full of them. A flowery speech might have many figures of speech but very little content. A flowery building design has lots of little touches and details. Flowery can mean something close to ornate.
Vocabulary lists containing flowery
Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 1
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Too Bright to See
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"The Open Window" and "One in a Million"
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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.
Mr. Mauch’s prose is not flowery, but direct, single-minded and determined, like the man himself.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026
She was convinced most people were sheep — including those who loved the flowery writing and cheesy romance plots of her novels.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2025
"Zhao's ban has been served and he is perfectly entitled to be competing again, but I've found the flowery language since his return somewhat befuddling given the circumstances," said snooker journalist Nick Metcalfe.
From BBC • May 3, 2025
The denizens of Millionaire’s Row wore white linen, seersucker suits, flowery hats and expensive lace versus the short pants and bathing suits among those who lived in the infield.
From Salon • May 4, 2024
The notes were flowery and effusive, except for Miss Goodacre’s, which, although correct, was terse to the point of rudeness.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
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.
