fulsome
offensive to good taste, especially as being excessive; overdone or gross: fulsome praise that embarrassed her deeply; fulsome décor.
disgusting; sickening; repulsive: a table heaped with fulsome mounds of greasy foods.
excessively or insincerely lavish: fulsome admiration.
encompassing all aspects; comprehensive: a fulsome survey of the political situation in Central America.
abundant or copious.
Origin of fulsome
1usage note For fulsome
Today, both fulsome and fulsomely are also used in senses closer to the original one: The sparse language of the new Prayer Book contrasts with the fulsome language of Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer. Later they discussed the topic more fulsomely. These uses are often criticized on the grounds that fulsome must always retain its connotations of “excessive” or “offensive.” The common phrase fulsome praise is thus sometimes ambiguous in modern use.
Other words from fulsome
- ful·some·ly, adverb
- ful·some·ness, noun
- un·ful·some, adjective
Words that may be confused with fulsome
Words Nearby fulsome
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use fulsome in a sentence
They’re booking appointments for a more fulsome shopping experience.
Why Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette Wants Everyone to Bring Their ‘Authentic Selves’ to Work | Joann S. Lublin | July 10, 2022 | TimeThe difference is like getting two recommended doses of coronavirus vaccines instead of one — the additional mask offers more fulsome protection against the virus.
Time to double or upgrade masks as coronavirus variants emerge, experts say | Fenit Nirappil | January 27, 2021 | Washington PostWhen she wrote to some American stars the response was less fulsome.
Whatever fulsome cliché of brilliance you want to attach to Hoffman is merited.
This occurs even as they proclaim their fulsome concern for “future generations.”
It Can Happen Here: Europe’s Screwed Generation and America’s | Joel Kotkin | June 4, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Clemmons was fulsome in his praise for Jews who have taken up residence on territory that Israel captured from Jordan in 1967.
Rather, he sees her fulsome interest in sex as a small rebellion against the fundamentalist world that she was born into.
The critics were fulsome in their praise and the public was lavish with its plaudits, but I was abjectly miserable.
The Fifth String | John Philip SousaI remember the fuss they made about it in the society papers—fulsome, sickenin' sort of hog-wash they wrote.
A Butterfly on the Wheel | Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger GullThen at last the eunuch spoke, his imperturbable smile swelling to a fulsome grin.
God Wills It! | William Stearns DavisDo they not bring moral discredit on a great creed, and tend to reduce it to the low level of mere and fulsome cant?
Islam Her Moral And Spiritual Value | Arthur Glyn LeonardMany letters were filled with fulsome praise and compliment, usually of one pattern.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete | Albert Bigelow Paine
British Dictionary definitions for fulsome
/ (ˈfʊlsəm) /
excessive or insincere, esp in an offensive or distasteful way: fulsome compliments
not standard extremely complimentary
informal full, rich or abundant: a fulsome figure; a fulsome flavour; fulsome detail
archaic disgusting; loathsome
usage For fulsome
Derived forms of fulsome
- fulsomely, adverb
- fulsomeness, 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
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