luscious

adjective

lus·cious ˈlə-shəs

Synonyms of luscious next

: having a delicious taste or smell : sweet

chocolate cake with a luscious whipped cream topping

archaic : excessively sweet : cloying

: sexually attractive : seductive, sexy

a luscious actress

: richly luxurious or appealing to the senses

her luscious voice swelling and decaying with total control, her low notes booming sonorously—

Gary Giddins

: excessively ornate

rich and luscious phrases, thick with imagery—

Ruth Park

lusciously adverb

lusciousness noun

Did you know?

Have you ever heard a young child describe a favorite food as “licius” instead of “delicious”? Back in the Middle Ages, the word licius was sometimes used as a shortened form of delicious by adults and kids alike. Linguists believe that luscious may have developed when licius (which comes from the Latin verb delicere, meaning “to entice by charm or attraction”) was further altered to lucius by 15th-century speakers. The adjective lush can sometimes mean “delicious” as well but is not a shortened form of luscious, having developed on its own from the Middle English lusch, meaning “soft or tender.”

Examples of luscious in a Sentence

chocolate cake with a luscious whipped cream topping a luscious strawberry bursting with juice

Recent Examples on the Web Add the luscious voice and presence of Pimentel, and the ingredients of an unforgettable musical-theater moment are stirred. —

Peter Marks, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2023 To make this dessert, Zack buys a rich, earthy sorghum syrup made by the Seminole nation and folds it into a luscious custard. —

The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 13 Sep. 2023 After a quick dip in the fryer, the luscious dessert is topped with a butter almond shortbread crumble! —

Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 13 Sep. 2023 On the traditional front, luscious brisket has a sharp peppery bark, and pork ribs are tinged pink with smoke straight down to the bone. —

Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2023 Enjoy a variety of delectable blended flavors, such as energizing Green Apple, luscious Peach, and seductive Strawberry. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Sep. 2023 Get the recipe for German Chocolate Sandwich Cookies. Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple-Spice Filling The classic fall combo of pumpkin and maple is smartly reconfigured here as a soft cookie sandwich luscious cream-cheese frosting. Get the recipe for Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple-Spice Filling. —

Christopher Michel, Country Living, 5 Sep. 2023 Growing up, both of our girls had veritable waterfalls of luscious, brown locks. —

John Kelly, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2023 This combination of luscious fruit and fluffy topping has made this dessert iconic for generations, and the combination of peaches and blueberries further elevates the classic. —

Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2023 See More

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