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Definition of lavishnext
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lavish

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lavish distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lavish are exuberant, lush, luxuriant, prodigal, and profuse. While all these words mean "giving or given out in great abundance," lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

When might exuberant be a better fit than lavish?

The words exuberant and lavish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

In what contexts can lush take the place of lavish?

In some situations, the words lush and lavish are roughly equivalent. However, lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance.

a lush green lawn

When is it sensible to use luxuriant instead of lavish?

Although the words luxuriant and lavish have much in common, luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

a luxuriant beard

When is prodigal a more appropriate choice than lavish?

The synonyms prodigal and lavish are sometimes interchangeable, but prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When would profuse be a good substitute for lavish?

The meanings of profuse and lavish largely overlap; however, profuse implies pouring forth without restraint.

profuse apologies

How is the word lavish distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lavish are exuberant, lush, luxuriant, prodigal, and profuse. While all these words mean "giving or given out in great abundance," lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

When might exuberant be a better fit than lavish?

The words exuberant and lavish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

In what contexts can lush take the place of lavish?

In some situations, the words lush and lavish are roughly equivalent. However, lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance.

a lush green lawn

When is it sensible to use luxuriant instead of lavish?

Although the words luxuriant and lavish have much in common, luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

a luxuriant beard

When is prodigal a more appropriate choice than lavish?

The synonyms prodigal and lavish are sometimes interchangeable, but prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When would profuse be a good substitute for lavish?

The meanings of profuse and lavish largely overlap; however, profuse implies pouring forth without restraint.

profuse apologies

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lavish
Adjective
The Nescens spa is perhaps the only area of the hotel that isn’t lavish and tasseled—though Garcia’s love for red is still very much intact—and offers a nice break from the scene upstairs. Lindsey Tramuta, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2026 The Northwest Nazarene University Choir and Orchestra performed as Hogaboam’s teal-green casket lay among lavish bouquets before a large stage at the center of the arena. Noah Daly april 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
In a piece for HoopsHype this week, longtime NBA agent Bernie Lee lavished praise on Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who blew Lee away during a free agent meeting last summer. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026 In those earliest days, the local newspaper, the Daily Arkansas Gazette, lavished praise on the establishment, comparing it to the likes of Chicago’s Palmer House. Cynthia J Drake, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lavish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lavish
Adjective
  • Both problems also thwarted Artemis I, whose capsule returned with excessive heat shield damage.
    Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Those key warning signs include low patient counts, excessive billing, staff shared across multiple companies, and supposedly terminally ill patients who were later discharged alive.
    Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • With abundant nutrients available, algal growth can explode, reducing oxygen levels and harming aquatic life.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Making It All Work Sacramento offers many undeniable advantages, including a vibrant cultural scene and abundant urban forests that are hard to find in many other cities.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • From his Palm Beach and New York mansions and his luxurious apartment in Paris, Epstein enjoyed a remarkable level of access to sensitive information like the outcomes of political meetings and the itineraries of Gulf royals.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
  • La Cour des Vosges has a very quiet, luxurious feeling, and a great view overlooking one of Paris’s most beautiful squares.
    CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That was the praise Hunter heaped on the Angels’ Jo Adell after the right fielder made three home run-robbing catches, the last a spectacular leaping grab while crashing into the seats near the right-field foul pole in the ninth inning of a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Plenty can be managed with modest equipment and a heaping spoonful of patience.
    Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Factor in a tax multiplier for those who repeatedly spend past the salary cap, and payroll expenses can include hundreds of millions in taxes.
    Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
  • How in the world had my mother, a young Black woman and the eldest of four, raised by two parents who had never finished high school in a segregated town in southwestern Louisiana, spent a summer in Europe in the 1960s?
    Shayla Martin, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Luvme designates this tier, which comprises the vast majority of the brand’s wig offerings on the site, as the quintessential selection for first-time wig buyers and value-savvy shoppers seeking exceptional quality, resilience, and an impeccable, manageable finish without the extravagant price tag.
    Noel Cymone Walker, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Other highlights include a spa steeped in ancient Roman thermal rituals and an extravagant ballroom for events.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • On Tuesday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine said the US had begun to fly B-52s over Iran, implying that airspace was now safer for attacks using cheaper and more plentiful JDAM precision bombs.
    Gerry Doyle, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The food for mold and mildew is plentiful in your tub and shower area.
    Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The ground-level studio apartment, which serves as a deluxe guest suite, has its own kitchen, full bathroom, and washer/dryer unit.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Pre-order Aster's deluxe limited-edition at Amazon now.
    Jessica Moore, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lavish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lavish. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

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