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
Juan Trippe, who ordered 25 747s for Pan Am in 1966 at a cost of $5 billion in today’s dollars, saw the plane as an instrument of human flourishing. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026 There was a sudden flourishing of knives, blades flashing in the market lights. — Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Verb
With her flourishing career as an author, and the inheritance of her late grandmother’s gothic mansion, there is nothing to stand in her way. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 25 July 2026 That same price-conscious approach would underpin Unitree’s flourishing. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 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
  • If successful, the approach could give exploration teams another way to narrow down promising areas before bringing in drilling equipment.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine has been relatively successful at intercepting the massive numbers of drones that Russia uses in its large-scale attacks.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of successful
Adjective
  • In an endearing gesture from a multimillionaire who ran a thriving entertainment production company specializing in true-crime shows, McDonnell was coming to offer a sweet form of thanks to the bank’s sales team.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Marie Cervay Hickle of PNC Bank explains how historic and new markets tax credits facilitate adaptive reuse, transforming vacant structures like old mills into thriving apartment communities and revitalizing neighborhoods.
    — Katie Goar, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of thriving
Adjective
  • The island’s very existence—a prosperous, democratic Chinese society integrated with the West—offers a stinging rebuke to the claim that authoritarian rule is uniquely suited to the Chinese people.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Memories of paradise Sentir Cubano holds that prosperous paradise so many Cubans remember.
    — Sarah Moreno August 7, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of prosperous
Noun
  • The early-season flowering bulb, which is a genus in the Iridaceae (iris) family, is known for its ability to bloom in late winter and early spring.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 19 Aug. 2026
  • His flowering is optimal for someone who hosts a show called The Reluctant Traveler, and Levy and director David Brindley both agree that the comedian’s hesitations have waned — at least a little.
    — Matthew Jacobs, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of flowering
Verb
  • However, these attacks do not seem to be succeeding, even when a judge isn’t reviewing documents with his own eyes.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Each succeeding year, exemptions would be extended to more vehicles based on the year they were manufactured.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of succeeding
Adjective
  • Tucked away in a private backyard in Ashford, one of the state’s few apitherapy huts allows people to breathe in air from thousands of buzzing bees.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Over the decades, the equipment evolved into today’s version of the sport, featuring a beeping softball and four-foot-tall buzzing foam bases that guide players through sound.
    — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 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 eight-acre property is located on the edge of Frenchman Bay, with beautiful water views, blossoming gardens, and tranquil lawns.
    — Morgan Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Companion planting and creating fruit tree guilds to make sure sufficient pollinators are around during blossoming time.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 23 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 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flourishing

Nglish: Translation of flourishing for Spanish Speakers

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