replete

adjective

re·​plete ri-ˈplēt 

1

: fully or abundantly provided or filled

a book replete with … delicious details

—William Safire

2

a

: abundantly fed

b

: fat, stout

3

: complete

repleteness noun

Did you know?

Given that one of the roots of replete is the Latin verb plēre, meaning "to fill," it isn't surprising that the word has synonyms such as full and complete. Replete, full, and complete all indicate that something contains all that is wanted or needed or possible, but there are also subtle differences between the words. Full implies the presence or inclusion of everything that can be held, contained, or attained ("a full schedule"), while complete applies when all that is needed is present ("a complete picture of the situation"). Replete is the synonym of choice when fullness is accompanied by a sense of satiety.

Synonyms

• blubbery
• chubby
• corpulent
• fat
• fleshy
• full
• gross
• lardy
• obese
• overweight
• plump
• podgy [chiefly British]
• portly
• pudgy
• roly-poly
• rotund
• round
• tubby

Choose the Right Synonym for replete

full, complete, plenary, replete mean containing all that is wanted or needed or possible.

full implies the presence or inclusion of everything that is wanted or required by something or that can be held, contained, or attained by it.

a full schedule

complete applies when all that is needed is present.

a complete picture of the situation

plenary adds to complete the implication of fullness without qualification.

given plenary power

replete implies being filled to the brim or to satiety.

replete with delightful details

Examples of replete in a Sentence

The book is replete with photographs.

The country's history is replete with stories of people who became successful by working hard.

Recent Examples on the Web

The election was replete with allegations of fraud and mismanagement, yet protests like Bucio Borja’s were scant. —Danielle MacKey, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024

Her work table is replete with dents, paint splatters and polish drippings. —Bryan West, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English replet, replete, repleet "filled (with), filled with food or drink, sated, having an excess of humors," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French replet "filled," borrowed from Latin replētus "full (of), fully endowed (with)," from past participle of replēre "to make full again, replenish, restore, fill up, sate," from re- re- + plēre "to fill" — more at full entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

replete

adjective

re·​plete ri-ˈplēt 

1

: fully or well provided or filled

a book replete with illustrations

2

: well fed

repleteness noun