Definition of abundantnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective abundant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of abundant are ample, copious, and plentiful. While all these words mean "more than sufficient without being excessive," abundant suggests an even greater or richer supply than does plentiful.

streams abundant with fish

When might ample be a better fit than abundant?

The words ample and abundant can be used in similar contexts, but ample implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement.

ample food to last the winter

When could copious be used to replace abundant?

While the synonyms copious and abundant are close in meaning, copious stresses largeness of supply rather than fullness or richness.

copious examples of bureaucratic waste

In what contexts can plentiful take the place of abundant?

In some situations, the words plentiful and abundant are roughly equivalent. However, plentiful implies a great or rich supply.

peaches are plentiful this summer

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 abundant The warming trend will continue Wednesday as temperatures climb closer to 90 degrees under abundant sunshine. The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep. 2026 For nearly a decade, hope was abundant, and Magowan made sure everyone knew the running tally. Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Butternut squash, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, figs, apples and pears are starting to fill the markets—because yes, fall is the season to indulge in abundant fruits and vegetables alongside our favorite meaty braises. Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Sep. 2026 Picturesque views of the surrounding Casco Bay are abundant, and its consistently excellent food scene has made the city a culinary hot spot for the ages. Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abundant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abundant
Adjective
  • Earlier attempts to harvest solar energy underwater stalled out in shallow waters under two meters deep, where sunlight is still plentiful but practical applications are scarce.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Unlike a year ago, both teams come in with a game under their belts, so the offenses with plentiful playmakers should operate more crisply.
    Eddie Timanus, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have introduced or passed legislation penalizing the practice and requiring employers to disclose hiring timelines or remove filled postings, while Texas has opened its own investigation into a major job board.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Maybe the sign-up flow has too many fields, the first action users need to take isn't obvious or there's a setting that should have been pre-filled.
    Kelli Behan-Aspland, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The new coaching staff needs time to evaluate, and Jarry, Andersen and Levi need to be given ample opportunity to play their way into (or out of) the starting job in goal.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • But as breathing slows in parts of Iran’s economy, ample oxygen will remain for the country’s elite.
    Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Gleason said pursuits are typically limited to two or three police cars to reduce road chaos, but there appeared to be at least five or six in this chase on a crowded road.
    Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Earlier this year, Becerra was a single-digit polling afterthought in the crowded race to replace Newsom, who is termed-out.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Order eggs Benedict topped with two generous heaps of caviar and no one blinks.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The Southeast Asian nation has long justified its generous political salaries as an important measure to curb corruption, which is rampant among some neighboring countries.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The rise of households with two working parents combined with frequent work travel and packed kids programming has created a demand for operational support, especially for those without family nearby to help.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Nayib Bukele, the autocratic leader of El Salvador, went on Tucker Carlson’s show to defend his own program of mass arrests and packed prisons.
    Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The new findings are confounding scientists’ expectations, raising questions about how exactly molecules can encounter their reactive partners in a teeming, crowded space — and therefore how cells can possibly function.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Even way back then, in 2021, social platforms were awash in fake views, fake likes, fake traffic, and fake engagement.
    Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Social media ahead of the Lincoln’s visit has been awash with jibes about lusty sailors, but recent visitors say the development of more family-friendly attractions means the new, more wholesome Pattaya overshadows its former seedy self.
    Grant Peck, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Abundant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abundant. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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