fulsome

adjective

ˈfu̇l-səm How to pronounce fulsome (audio)
Definition of fulsomenext
1
as in sickening
overly or insincerely flattering the player's fulsome praise for the coach showed just how hard he was trying to be named captain of the team

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2
as in generous
giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation grateful survivors who were fulsome in their praise of the rescue team

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3
as in ugly
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment the author perpetuates some truly fulsome stereotypes in her novel

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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 fulsome DeSantis, who signed the law in the Republican stronghold of The Villages in Central Florida, was joined by several other Republicans who touted its provisions, warned about potential threats to election integrity, and offered fulsome praise of the governor. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026 As Warsh interpreted it, modern central banking is not only about setting policy but also about presenting outcomes as the result of fulsome deliberation. — Paul Wachtel, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026 Johnson, an ally of the Jacksons, wrote a fulsome tribute that nodded to Jackson’s ascent in Chicago, from building up the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization to founding the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. — Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026 Reviews of the memoir were fulsome. — David Treuer, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fulsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fulsome
  1. sickening
  2. generous
  3. ugly
  4. gushy
  5. charitable
  6. disgusting
  7. abundant
  8. awful
Adjective
  • Wildlife officials had found that many of these poisons worked their way through the food chain, sickening and killing owls, raptors, coyotes and mountain lions.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • More importantly, the China business, long a stalwart, started a sickening double-digit decline.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of sickening
Adjective
  • She’s matched beat for beat by Melanie Lynskey, no revelation but reliably affecting and emotionally generous as our heroine’s doting, ailing mother.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • With a beam of roughly 42 feet, the cat offers generous living quarters.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of generous
Adjective
  • Some of the coverage may be ugly and unfair, but isn’t obscurity worse?
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The City of Atlanta and Fulton County’s Board of Commissioners have been trading negotiations over the sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center, and things have started to get ugly.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • Except for the unfettered devotion in the latter is replaced by swooping strings and a gushy chorus that merely offer an antiseptic veneer.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 June 2026
  • The announcement may come as a shock for country fans who have followed the couple through their sappy podcast appearances and gushy acceptance speeches.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
Definition of gushy
Adjective
  • Global Citizen app users can also earn points to enter to win a pair of free tickets or use the app to make a charitable donation in order to secure tickets.
    — Katie Houlis, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Then, the news started focusing on his charitable contributions in comparison to ex-wife Mackenzie Scott, and his new business endeavors as well as his remaining Amazon ties.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of charitable
Adjective
  • In a series distinguished by copious disgusting battle scenes, Ormund co-stars in one of its very grossest—a gross-on-gross-on-gross flambé—and almost gets in one last barf.
    — Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • His central characters can be nasty, disgusting, violent, hysterically cruel, and passionately consumed.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • Ultimately, the immediate need for affordable, abundant solar capacity clashes with the goal of a self-sufficient supply chain, making price the primary driver for now.
    — Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Toe-to-toe with El Niño The main challenge these systems face is El Niño’s abundant storm-killing wind shear.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of abundant
Adjective
  • The disease still makes lots of people feel awful for a week or two, foiling their summer vacations and forcing them to miss work and school.
    — Rob Stein, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Singing in the shower, gardening, baking, and writing poetry (yes, even awful poetry) are all good options.
    — Laura Bradley, HEALTH, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of awful

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fulminations
fulsome
fumble
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Cite this Entry

“Fulsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fulsome. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fulsome

Nglish: Translation of fulsome for Spanish Speakers

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