fulsome

[ fool-suhm, fuhl- ]

See synonyms for: fulsome fulsomely fulsomeness on Thesaurus.com

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.

Origin of fulsome

First recorded in 1200–50, fulsome is from the Middle English word fulsom.See full¹, -some¹

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.

Other words from fulsome

ful·some·ly, adverb
ful·some·ness, noun
un·ful·some, adjective

Words that may be confused with fulsome

1. full, fullness, fulsome
2. fulsome , noisome

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 | Time
The 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 Post
When she wrote to some American stars the response was less fulsome.
Diana Rigg: GOT's Queen of Thorns Speaks | Nico Hines | August 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Whatever fulsome cliché of brilliance you want to attach to Hoffman is merited.
Philip Seymour Hoffman: An Actor First | Tim Teeman | February 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
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.
The Israeli Right’s New Best Friend | Michelle Goldberg | August 25, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
Rather, he sees her fulsome interest in sex as a small rebellion against the fundamentalist world that she was born into.
The Christian-Right Whistleblower | Michelle Goldberg | June 24, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
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 Sousa
I 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 Gull
Then at last the eunuch spoke, his imperturbable smile swelling to a fulsome grin.
God Wills It! | William Stearns Davis
Do 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 Leonard
Many 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

fulsome

/ (ˈfʊlsəm) /

adjective

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

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

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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