effusive

ef·fu·sive | \ i-ˈfyü-siv

How to pronounce effusive (audio)

, e-, -ziv\

Definition of effusive

1 : marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm effusive praise

2 archaic : pouring freely

3 : characterized or formed by a nonexplosive outpouring of lava effusive rocks

Other Words from effusive Synonyms & Antonyms Effusive History Is Overflowing More Example Sentences Learn More about effusive

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Effusive History Is Overflowing

We've used "effusive" in English to describe excessive outpourings since the 17th century. In the 1800s, geologists adopted the specific sense related to flowing lava-or to hardened rock formed from flowing lava. "Effusive" can be traced to the Latin verb effundere ("to pour out"), which itself comes from "fundere" ("to pour") plus a modification of the prefix ex- ("out"). Our verb "effuse" has the same Latin ancestors. A person effuses when he or she speaks effusively. Liquids can effuse as well (as in "water effusing from a pipe").

Examples of effusive in a Sentence

They offered effusive thanks for our help. often effusive no matter what the occasion, my aunt is even more so at weddings and funerals

Recent Examples on the Web Clint Spaulding/Patrick McMullan, via Getty Images Susan Kamil, an editor and publisher of celebrated authors whose effusive praise for her in their books’ acknowledgments made her name familiar to readers, died on Sunday in Manhattan. — Sam Roberts, New York Times, "Susan Kamil, a Top Book Editor and Publisher, Dies at 69," 10 Sep. 2019 Mr Moon, who needs negotiations between America and North Korea to restart in order to advance his ambitious agenda of inter-Korean economic cooperation, was effusive throughout. — Seoul, The Economist, "Donald Trump meets Kim Jong Un on the border between South and North Korea," 30 June 2019 Marcos of the Philippines was particularly effusive. — Roger Simmons, orlandosentinel.com, "Apollo 11 left disc of poetic messages and humble-brags from Earth on moon," 10 May 2019 This evasiveness, and the effusive testimonials of collaborators and friends such as Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, and David Geffen do the subject no service. — BostonGlobe.com, "“Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice,”," 12 Sep. 2019 The just thing would be for Leif Olson to receive an effusive apology from the Department of Labor and immediate reinstatement. — Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, "Ben Penn’s Bad-Faith Hit Job on Leif Olson," 3 Sep. 2019 Sharing effusive Instagrams has been a common occurrence for the couple this month. — Vogue, "Justin and Hailey Bieber are Having a Romantic Time in Tokyo," 1 Aug. 2019 Even in peak form, Mueller was not an effusive witness. — Ken Dilanian, NBC News, "'Bob Mueller is struggling': The Democrats don't get their Trump gotcha moment," 24 July 2019 One effusive Trump ally, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont. — Anchorage Daily News, "‘He always doubles down’: Inside the political crisis caused by Trump’s racist tweets," 21 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'effusive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

30 Oct 2019

Time Traveler for effusive

The first known use of effusive was circa 1687

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