succulent

1 of 2

adjective

suc·​cu·​lent ˈsə-kyə-lənt How to pronounce succulent (audio)
1
a
: full of juice : juicy
b
: moist and tasty : toothsome
a succulent meal
c
of a plant : having fleshy tissues that conserve moisture
2
: rich in interest
succulently adverb

succulent

2 of 2

noun

: a succulent plant (such as a cactus or an aloe)

Examples of succulent in a Sentence

Adjective vines weighted down with plump, succulent grapes a buffet table set with an array of succulent roasts
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Dark Abyss At Dry Rocks at Baker’s Cay Resort in Key Largo, a refreshing take on a Blackberry Smash that is crafted with gin, luxardo liqueur, succulent blackberries, and lemon. Aly Walansky, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 On the first Saturday of every month, Waterwise Botanicals also hosts a free succulent event, when all adult customers can take home one succulent plant on the house. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2024 Each day, Summer Bailey saw the congressional campaign signs staked into the succulent greenery near the entrance to Balboa Island in the heart of Newport Beach. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024 Mountain Crest Gardens also sends a free plant with every succulent order, and sometimes more than one. Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Feb. 2024 Dry your succulent tears of a drag queen with candy bar wrappers abound because, after three weeks of RuPaul's Drag Race season 16, the sweet Hershii LiqCour-Jete is this year's honorable (and, frankly, iconic) inductee into the Porkchop Loading Dock. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 22 Jan. 2024 Their rosettes of succulent, hairy leaves top off thick and spongy trunks that trap fog drifting in over the Andes’ unique and delicate high-altitude wetlands, called paramos. Quentin Septer, Scientific American, 16 Feb. 2024 To grow a living pebbles plant, use a cactus and succulent potting mix ($21, Walmart) and a pot with a drainage hole. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2024 Jones, whose vivacious voice features distinct and succulent hints of gravel, carries the power to roar like a lion or purr like a kitten. David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024
Noun
The Bulletin reported that Bertucci won a $1,000 savings bond from Bonnie Plant, a greenhouse facility that provides gardeners with fresh fruits, vegetables and succulents. USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024 Catalina has more than 60 endemic species of plants and animals, so be on the lookout for Catalina Island fox and Catalina live-forever succulents, among other unique wildlife. Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2024 Refresh mulch — rock mulch for succulents, woody mulches for all non-succulent ornamentals. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2023 These show-stopping succulents have distinctive flowers in magenta, red, pink, coral, white, and other colors. Lynn Coulter, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2023 The gardens will have more than 200 species of plants and trees, including palms, oaks, sycamores, succulents and olives. Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024 Beyond bonsai trees, other exotic plants across the state have become targets for smugglers, including thousands of succulents smuggled from California state parks to Asia. Will McCarthy, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2024 Always mulch after planting: rock mulch for succulents, chunky wood mulch for all other ornamental plants, straw in vegetable beds. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2024 In particular, freezing temperatures can be a major threat to succulents, tropical plants, ferns and citrus as well as such cold-tender favorites as begonias and geraniums. Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'succulent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin suculentus, from sucus juice, sap; perhaps akin to Latin sugere to suck — more at suck

First Known Use

Adjective

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of succulent was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near succulent

Cite this Entry

“Succulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/succulent. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

succulent

1 of 2 adjective
suc·​cu·​lent ˈsək-yə-lənt How to pronounce succulent (audio)
1
a
: full of juice : juicy
succulent cherries
b
: moist and tasty
a succulent meal
c
: having fleshy tissues that conserve moisture
succulent plants
2
: rich in interest
a succulent book
succulently adverb

succulent

2 of 2 noun
: a succulent plant (as a cactus or an aloe)

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