voluptuous

adjective vo·lup·tu·ous \ və-ˈləp(t)-shə-wəs , -shəs \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Examples: voluptuous in a Sentence

Definition of voluptuous

1 a : suggesting sensual pleasure by fullness and beauty of form

voluptuous nudes

b : full of delight or pleasure to the senses : conducive to or arising from sensuous or sensual gratification : luxurious

a voluptuous dance

voluptuous ornamentation

a voluptuous wine

2 : given to or spent in enjoyment of luxury, pleasure, or sensual gratifications

a long and voluptuous holiday
—Edmund Wilson

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voluptuously

adverb

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voluptuousness

noun

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Examples of voluptuous in a Sentence

the voluptuous richness of the music

Recent Examples of voluptuous from the Web

Their stories just sit there, voluptuous and tame, like a mink stole prettily arranged.

— jamie fisher, New York Times, "Reliably Unreliable Men, Unlikely to Improve Their Lot," 22 June 2018
The images of Walter are softer and more voluptuous, notes PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans.

— jane wooldridge, miamiherald, "For Picasso and his voluptuous muse, time was brief. This painting tells the tale.," 4 July 2018
The unattended soil must contain a perfect blend of acidity; the saturated colors of the voluptuous, pendulous flowers that cluster on the lightweight branches range from faint whitish-blue to deep pink and dusky purple.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Algren Award runner-up: "Here Is Where the Taxi Driver Set His Wife on Fire" by GKS Waller," 2 June 2018
In one image, Venus is voluptuous with long, possibly blonde hair.

— nina siegal, New York Times, "A Radical Artist Takes a Startling Turn Toward Love," 8 May 2018
Breasts that fit into a champagne glass always have been the ideal, and a waifish form is prized over a voluptuous figure.

— beth landman, The Hollywood Reporter, "L.A. vs. Europe Plastic Surgery Wars: "My Patients in France Live in Fear of the Hollywood Look"," 5 May 2018
Gnoli’s paintings became more voluptuous and more baroque from 1965 onwards.

— tobias grey, WSJ, "Italian Artist Domenico Gnoli’s Work is Back on Display in New York," 30 Apr. 2018
If anything, that sounds like a more voluptuous woman to me.

— julie mazziotta, PEOPLE.com, "Amy Schumer on the Body Shaming Backlash Around Her New Movie: 'We All Struggle with Self-Esteem'," 17 Apr. 2018
The heads look skeletal, and their juxtaposition with the voluptuous bodies imbues the images with the suggestion of death but also an alien quality.

— sharon mizota, latimes.com, "In Katherine Sherwood's nude paintings, disability and race enter the picture," 2 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of voluptuous

Middle English, from Latin voluptuosus, irregular from voluptas pleasure, from volup pleasurable; akin to Greek elpesthai to hope, Latin velle to wish — more at will

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1b

See Words from the same year

voluptuous Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of voluptuous

sensuous, sensual, luxurious, voluptuous mean relating to or providing pleasure through gratification of the senses. sensuous implies gratification of the senses for the sake of aesthetic pleasure.