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fulsome
[ fool-suhm, fuhl- ]
/ ˈfʊl səm, ˈfʌl- /
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adjective
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.
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Origin of fulsome
usage note for fulsome
In the 13th century when it was first used, fulsome meant simply “abundant or copious.” It later developed additional senses of “offensive, gross” and “disgusting, sickening,” probably by association with foul, and still later a sense of excessiveness: a fulsome disease; a fulsome meal, replete with too much of everything. For some centuries fulsome was used exclusively, or nearly so, with these unfavorable meanings.
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.
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, adverbful·some·ness, nounun·ful·some, adjectiveWords nearby fulsome
fulmination, fulmine, fulminic, fulminic acid, fulminous, fulsome, Fulton, Fulton, Robert, fulvous, fumadiddle, fumage
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use fulsome in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for fulsome
fulsome
/ (ˈfʊlsəm) /
adjective
excessive or insincere, esp in an offensive or distasteful wayfulsome compliments
not standard extremely complimentary
informal full, rich or abundanta fulsome figure; a fulsome flavour; fulsome detail
archaic disgusting; loathsome
Derived forms of fulsome
fulsomely, adverbfulsomeness, nounusage for fulsome
The use of fulsome to mean extremely complimentary or full, rich or abundant is common in journalism, but should be avoided in other kinds of writing
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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