1
as in ornate
elaborately and often excessively decorated
a florid, gilded mirror that took up most of the wall
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rhetorical
full of fine words and fancy expressions
gave a florid speech in honor of the queen's visit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in glowing
having a healthy reddish skin tone
a man with a florid complexion
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of florid
Neolithic art in Orkney tends to be angular and abstract—less florid than the spirals seen in Irish tombs.
—
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
As the two plunge in and out of dreams, the movie serves up a series of florid set pieces, most of which serve no narrative purpose beyond their eyeball-tickling show-reel dimension.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Nov. 2025
McNamara’s screenplays are equally strange and enchanting, but also florid, absurd and randy.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 24 Oct. 2025
Peace in the Middle East is, of course, a florid exaggeration.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for florid
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
As the two plunge in and out of dreams, the movie serves up a series of florid set pieces, most of which serve no narrative purpose beyond their eyeball-tickling show-reel dimension.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Nov. 2025
McNamara’s screenplays are equally strange and enchanting, but also florid, absurd and randy.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 24 Oct. 2025
Peace in the Middle East is, of course, a florid exaggeration.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for florid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for florid
Adjective
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Defined by its metallic hardware, ornate embroidery and often shrunken fit, the jacket added romance and opulence to the season.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
17 Apr. 2026
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The coloring and low profile on this design still feels neutral while adding a little visual interest with the ornate patterning.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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For Republican Presidents, this has mostly been rhetoric.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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While the confrontation remains largely rhetorical for now, the sharp escalation in language, and the competing interests driving it, highlight the fragility of the regional landscape and the limits of Washington’s ability to keep both sides aligned.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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According to Moore, stainless steel requires regular cleaning to keep a glowing appearance.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
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Use a pair of 10X50 binoculars to spot C/2025 R3's glowing nucleus, or long-exposure photography to capture striking details in Comet PanSTARRS' tail as it's buffeted by the solar wind.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The paper card was purple to harken to the company's popular and reliable Travelers Cheques that had a violet hue.—
Nancy Cutler,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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The other purple elephant in the Monforts’ room, of course, is Bryant, a deal that’s aging the way a ’78 Oldsmobile Cutlass does when it’s been left out in the rain for 30 years.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The ex-spies blended in nicely among the engineers, techies, and tanned retirees from law enforcement and government-adjacent jobs.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
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But this gorgeous pair of tanned leather mules has a cork insole and a natural rubber sole for a super high-quality step.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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There also appeared to be red paint on the car’s right front fender consistent with the paint on Mikhail’s bike, the affidavit said.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
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In a bowl, combine the red onion, lemon juice, remaining tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper and let sit for 4 minutes, then toss with the tomatoes.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Curries — nutty beef panang, a ruddy meatless variation made with pumpkin — emphasize creaminess and mild aromatic complexity.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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Pentecostal revival meeting lights and condominium-sale advertisements illuminate the city, leaving a ruddy glow along the highway.—
Edna Bonhomme,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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During the chaos, community members like local restaurant owner Ron Grady stepped up to offer warm shelter and food to those who were stranded in the cold due to the massive multi-vehicle crash.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
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Thursday will be warm, dry and breezy in the Twin Cities, while other parts of Minnesota will face extreme fire risk.—
Joseph Dames,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Florid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/florid. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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