profuse

[pruh-fyoos, proh‐]

adjective

1. spending or giving freely and in large amount, often to excess; extravagant (often followed byin ).

   profuse praise.

   Antonyms: thrifty

2. made or done freely and abundantly.

   profuse apologies.

3. abundant; in great amount.

profuse

/ prəˈfjuːs /

adjective

1. plentiful, copious, or abundant

   profuse compliments

2. (often foll by in) free or generous in the giving (of)

   profuse in thanks

Other Word Forms

• profusely adverb
• profuseness noun
• unprofuse adjective
• unprofuseness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of profuse¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin profūsus, past participle of profundere “to pour out or forth”; pro- ¹, fuse ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of profuse¹

C15: from Latin profundere to pour lavishly

Synonym Study

See lavish. See ample.

Example Sentences

Tokyo has issued apologies, but many Chinese people believe they are not profuse enough.

Read more on BBC

Dodgers officials, however, have been profuse in their praise of Betts since the start of the season.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

South Africa is Africa’s most advanced country but has struggled to solve a profuse inequality that has kept millions in poverty three decades after the segregation of apartheid ended.

Read more on Seattle Times

But two hours and a profuse apology later, one council member said that not only a council president had been chosen, but a prime minister as well.

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Their results demonstrated that the increase in biomass was due to improved photosynthesis and a delicate balancing of life cycle transition between diffuse and profuse growth depending on nitrogen and carbon availability.

Read more on Science Daily