Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective copious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of copious are abundant, ample, and plentiful. While all these words mean "more than sufficient without being excessive," copious stresses largeness of supply rather than fullness or richness.

copious examples of bureaucratic waste

How do abundant and plentiful relate to one another, in the sense of copious?

Abundant suggests an even greater or richer supply than does plentiful.

streams abundant with fish

When can ample be used instead of copious?

While in some cases nearly identical to copious, ample implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement.

ample food to last the winter

When is plentiful a more appropriate choice than copious?

The words plentiful and copious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plentiful implies a great or rich supply.

peaches are plentiful this summer

Examples of copious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web When that happens, the breakup usually releases a copious amount of dust. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 27 Sep. 2024 The insignificant flowers form copious amounts of seeds that fully ripen in fall. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2024 But his current slate is firmly weighted away from the highbrow and toward quick, copious production, a successful gambit with clear tradeoffs. Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024 Meant to evoke the feeling of an old-time movie theater, the space is enveloped in oxblood and warmed with regal doses of amber, crimson, and mauve via copious pillows covered in Indian textiles and a Bang & Olufson wall speaker covered in Kvadrat fabric. Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for copious 

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

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Cite this Entry

“Copious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copious. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on copious

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