Definition of copiousnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective copious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of copious are abundant, ample, and plentiful. While all these words mean "more than sufficient without being excessive," copious stresses largeness of supply rather than fullness or richness.

copious examples of bureaucratic waste

How do abundant and plentiful relate to one another, in the sense of copious?

Abundant suggests an even greater or richer supply than does plentiful.

streams abundant with fish

When can ample be used instead of copious?

While in some cases nearly identical to copious, ample implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement.

ample food to last the winter

When is plentiful a more appropriate choice than copious?

The words plentiful and copious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 copious Stiltgrass produces copious amounts of seeds that are highly mobile and spread easily by wind or water. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 9 Sep. 2026 Despite its copious amounts of blood, Onslaught seems shy about pushing the limits of its own premise. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026 Pack a tube of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) in your first aid kit instead of antibiotic ointment and remember to flush all scrapes and cuts with copious amounts of clean water before covering them with the jelly. — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 My humidity levels are at an all-time low, which means this swamp rat has started drinking copious amounts of water to deal with the heat. — Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for copious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copious
Adjective
  • Defined by lavish ornamentation, geometric forms, and unabashed glamour, Art Deco is having a major revival this fall.
    — Corinne Pierre-Louis, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Continue reading … EMPTY POCKETS — AOC's 'Tax the Rich' designer accused of stiffing small business after lavish gala.
    — , FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Later that day, The Times asked visitors to share their impressions of a museum that, until now, has lived largely in the imaginations of fans and in abundant social media posts online.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • According to the Burke Museum, passenger pigeons were once the most abundant bird in North America, numbering in the billions and accounting for close to 40% of the continent’s land birds when European settlers arrived in the 19th century.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • There is also ample storage, augmented by a big walk-in pantry.
    — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The captor/captive dynamic is a good one and it’s given ample screen time.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • From the outside, many learned of his recovery through her plentiful social-media posts.
    — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The new arc picks up in early fall, as the Shu clan’s southern territory prepares to host the Harvest Festival, a ritual in which the Crown Prince and the Maidens pray for a plentiful harvest.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • There’s a marginal risk of excessive rainfall for each afternoon through Wednesday, according to the weather service.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Avoid excessive moisture and never pour water into the main unit.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 20 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Definitely don’t be overly profuse or attempt to be complicated in whatever your request is.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
  • Dodgers officials, however, have been profuse in their praise of Betts since the start of the season.
    — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024
Adjective
  • Lush forests of giant club mosses and ferns produced bountiful quantities of organic matter.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
  • After bountiful rain in New Jersey, beaches have been under fecal bacteria advisories and at one point two beaches were closed.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The riotous 640-page doorstopper grapples with homophobia then and now, the lingering specter of colonialism, the tumult of the AIDS crisis, and frameworks of power that demand dominance or submission.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Adéla draws from the Britney Spears playbook on the track and ends up with a riotous song destined for Top 40 dominance.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Copious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copious. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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