flourishing 1 of 3

adjective

ˈflər-i-shiŋ How to pronounce flourishing (audio)
Definition of flourishingnext
1
as in successful
having attained a desired end or state of good fortune a flourishing actor in the early years of the talkies

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thriving
marked by much life, movement, or activity a flourishing market in sports memorabilia

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in prosperous
marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically a flourishing community that has become a major beneficiary of the high-tech boom

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flourishing

2 of 3

noun

as in flowering

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Dissimilar Words

flourishing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of flourish
1
as in prospering
to grow vigorously that plant flourishes in cool, wet weather

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2
as in succeeding
to reach a desired level of accomplishment the arts program flourished once it received adequate funding

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 flourishing
Adjective
As founding director of the cyborg psychology research group and co-director of MIT Media Lab’s Advancing Humans with AI research program, Pataranutaporn is interested in ways that people can use AI to promote human flourishing, pro-social interaction, and human-to-human interaction. — Angela Haupt, Time, 26 Jan. 2026 It has been correlated with swells of human progress and flourishing, science and technology, medicine and political freedom. — Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
Noun
There was a sudden flourishing of knives, blades flashing in the market lights. — Literary Hub, 3 June 2026 But Ava’s flourishing is also part of Deborah’s legacy, as a boss who has (mostly) stopped exploiting her employees and started supporting them—going so far, at the end of Season 4, as to choose her writing partner over her talk show. — Judy Berman, Time, 29 May 2026
Verb
Of course, Oaxaca's appeal also extends beyond the plate, with colorful colonial architecture, bustling markets, centuries-old churches, and a flourishing art scene. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026 Outside of his career in television, Baumes had a flourishing career in interior design. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for flourishing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flourishing
  1. successful
  2. thriving
  3. prosperous
  4. flowering
  5. succeeding
  6. buzzing
  7. prospering
  8. blossoming
Adjective
  • The system’s successful tests advance it toward operational capability.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026
  • Having someone who’s come from the curatorial world was really meaningful and has proven to be incredibly successful.
    — Sarah Douglas, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of successful
Adjective
  • The tour started Tuesday in the western Pennsylvania town of Greensburg — once the hub of a thriving coal industry that now lures visitors from nearby Pittsburgh for highland recreation and a historic downtown.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • My Vision for a thriving Orange County is based around leveraging our area’s natural advantages, particularly in SpaceTech.
    — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026
Definition of thriving
Adjective
  • Miguel learns that the boy had been taken by Miguel’s parents and the parents of his friends after their once-prosperous village in Veracruz took a major hit.
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
  • Congressional District first and will work to build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous future for our families, our communities, and our country.
    — Belinda Keiser, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026
Definition of prosperous
Noun
  • Standing water from birdbaths, bright flowering plants, fruit trees, and untreated wood are all attractive features, adds Jim McHale, president of JP McHale Pest Management.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 12 July 2026
  • Most systems rely on horizontal or angled training to promote lateral growth of flowering stems.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 July 2026
Definition of flowering
Verb
  • After spending the offseason dedicating himself to succeeding in the weight room, a visibly stronger Richard was an impassable brick wall against the summer league guards.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 17 July 2026
  • Republicans just finished a sprawling and bruising contest to figure out their nominee for succeeding McMaster, who is wrapping up his second term.
    — Meg Kinnard, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of succeeding
Adjective
  • But the loud, buzzing, mechanical presence often panics wildlife and alters natural behavior.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
  • Earlier this morning in New York’s always-buzzing Meatpacking District, a long queue of young, cool folks could be seen lining up along 14th street—circling the block from 10th avenue all the way to 9th.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 16 July 2026
Definition of buzzing
Adjective
  • Wall Street has been treating the two companies very differently over the past year, largely because Alphabet has a prospering cloud business that helps justify its hefty spending.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Definition of prospering
Noun
  • The beats were provided primarily by a blossoming producer out of Charlotte, North Carolina, King Yohannes.
    — Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 14 July 2026
  • Once the episode aired, countless articles were written about the maybe-relationship blossoming between the two stars.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of blossoming

Browse Nearby Words

flourishes
flourishing
floury
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Cite this Entry

“Flourishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flourishing. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flourishing

Nglish: Translation of flourishing for Spanish Speakers

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