luscious
Americanadjective
-
highly pleasing to the taste or smell.
luscious peaches.
- Synonyms:
- palatable, delectable
- Antonyms:
- unpalatable, disgusting
-
richly satisfying to the senses or the mind.
the luscious style of his poetry.
-
richly adorned; luxurious.
luscious furnishings.
-
arousing physical, or sexual, desire; voluptuous.
a luscious figure.
-
sweet to excess; cloying.
adjective
-
extremely pleasurable, esp to the taste or smell
-
very attractive
-
archaic cloying
Synonym Usage
See delicious.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of luscious
1375–1425; late Middle English lucius, unexplained variant of licius, aphetic variant of delicious
Explanation
Calling something luscious means it's appealing and incredibly pleasing to the senses. That goes for good-looking people as well as a rich piece of chocolate cake. An adjective meaning richly appealing or scrumptious, luscious is actually believed to be a shortened version of delicious. Synonyms include succulent, savory and enticing — all words that can also be used to either describe a perfectly cooked steak or your crush's unbelievable, irresistible lips.
Vocabulary lists containing luscious
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
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Simply Scrumptious! Synonyms for "Delicious"
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"The Witches" by Roald Dahl, Chapters 6–11
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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.
Makepeace-Warne said that while someone might not think of vast and luscious rainforests in the Isle of Man, such ecosystems once covered almost all of the Celtic island.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
Done up in a luscious dark-red paint scheme, it has a removable roof over the front seats, putting your chauffeur out in the elements while you sit in back, away from prying eyes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026
There’s a quality of intelligent feeling redolent of Rosalind in “As You Like It” in Wicks’ affecting characterization and luscious singing.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 18, 2025
Toss it with fresh lobster chunks, enrobe cutlets with hollandaise and bread crumbs before frying, or make the most luscious broiled oysters you've ever had.
From Salon • Jun. 5, 2025
The cook, placed upon her mettle, served a delicious repast—a luscious tenderloin broiled à point.
From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin
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.
