Synonyms of lavish

lavish 1 of 2

adjective

ˈla-vish 

1

as in excessive

going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount

this lavish consumption of our natural resources simply cannot continue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excessive
• extravagant
• extreme
• steep
• insane
• endless
• infinite
• over-the-top
• exorbitant
• fancy
• baroque
• inordinate
• undue
• plethoric
• immoderate
• intolerable
• unconscionable
• inappropriate
• overdue
• towering
• unbearable
• devilish
• unmerciful
• stiff
• overextravagant
• overweening
• overmuch
• improper
• a bit much
• limitless
• boundless
• immeasurable
• unjustifiable
• unwarranted
• unseemly
• thick
• unrestrained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonable
• modest
• moderate
• inadequate
• insufficient
• temperate
• deficient
• middling
• minimal
• minimum

2

as in abundant

pouring forth in great amounts

the lavish praise that the novel was receiving had some wondering if it could ever live up to readers' expectations

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abundant
• plentiful
• copious
• excessive
• ample
• profuse
• riotous
• bountiful
• liberal
• extravagant
• complete
• gushing
• bounteous
• sufficient
• enough
• plenteous
• galore
• luxuriant
• adequate
• munificent
• fertile
• fecund
• unstinting
• free
• abounding
• redundant
• immoderate
• unsparing
• openhanded
• fat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poor
• meager
• sparse
• scanty
• inadequate
• scant
• spare
• insufficient
• lacking
• scarce
• incomplete
• trickling
• unsatisfactory
• wanting
• minimal
• stingy
• deficient
• dribbling
• mere
• bare

3

as in luxurious

showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort

the lavish apartment even boasted a marble bathroom with gold-plated fixtures

Synonyms & Similar Words

• luxurious
• deluxe
• luxury
• luxuriant
• sumptuous
• opulent
• beautiful
• palace
• palatial
• extravagant
• plush
• expensive
• silken
• Babylonian
• comfortable
• luxe
• rich
• gorgeous
• impressive
• plushy
• costly
• magnificent
• premium
• showy
• precious
• Lucullan
• grandiose
• ostentatious
• regal
• imposing
• grand
• royal
• splendid
• dear
• awesome
• pretentious
• majestic
• baronial
• monumental
• heroic
• kingly
• proud
• cozy
• awful
• stately
• noble
• homelike
• august
• homey
• snug

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humble
• austere
• ascetic
• economical
• meager
• spartan
• no-frills
• spare
• frugal
• thrifty
• stingy

lavish

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to heap

to give readily and in large quantities

doting parents lavishing lots of attention on their children

Synonyms & Similar Words

• heap
• pour
• shower
• rain
• stream
• flood
• overwhelm
• gush
• overflow
• swamp
• inundate
• hail
• bombard

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep
• retain
• withhold
• reserve
• hold back

2

as in to spend

to use up carelessly

a great actor who lavished his talent in lousy movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spend
• lose
• waste
• squander
• throw away
• misspend
• trifle (away)
• run through
• fritter (away)
• blow
• splurge
• dissipate
• play ducks and drakes with
• fiddle away
• indulge
• consume
• deplete
• impoverish
• exhaust
• disburse
• expend
• overspend
• overindulge
• lay out
• shoot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conserve
• protect
• preserve
• economize
• save
• skimp
• scrimp
• hoard
• lay up

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lavish distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lavish are exuberant, lush, luxuriant, prodigal, and profuse. While all these words mean "giving or given out in great abundance," lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

When might exuberant be a better fit than lavish?

The words exuberant and lavish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

In what contexts can lush take the place of lavish?

In some situations, the words lush and lavish are roughly equivalent. However, lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance.

a lush green lawn

When is it sensible to use luxuriant instead of lavish?

Although the words luxuriant and lavish have much in common, luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

a luxuriant beard

When is prodigal a more appropriate choice than lavish?

The synonyms prodigal and lavish are sometimes interchangeable, but prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When would profuse be a good substitute for lavish?

The meanings of profuse and lavish largely overlap; however, profuse implies pouring forth without restraint.

profuse apologies

How is the word lavish distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lavish are exuberant, lush, luxuriant, prodigal, and profuse. While all these words mean "giving or given out in great abundance," lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

When might exuberant be a better fit than lavish?

The words exuberant and lavish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

In what contexts can lush take the place of lavish?

In some situations, the words lush and lavish are roughly equivalent. However, lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance.

a lush green lawn

When is it sensible to use luxuriant instead of lavish?

Although the words luxuriant and lavish have much in common, luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

a luxuriant beard

When is prodigal a more appropriate choice than lavish?

The synonyms prodigal and lavish are sometimes interchangeable, but prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When would profuse be a good substitute for lavish?

The meanings of profuse and lavish largely overlap; however, profuse implies pouring forth without restraint.

profuse apologies

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lavish

Adjective

In the final hour of the evening, the silence was broken at a lavish dinner party with a band and excellent food provided by James Beard award–winning Chicago chef Jason Hammel of Lula Cafe, including a tiramisu that measured twelve feet long. —Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026

Owner Lenny Moy collected 1,500 antiques from movie and TV sets, his favorite London hotels, and at least 50 British estates then wove them into the 118-year-old manor’s lavish redesign. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026

Verb

Ask for coupons and samples Manufacturers often lavish maternity wards with freebies, but the hospital staff is sometimes too busy to remember to dole them out. —Deborah Skolnik, Parents, 1 Mar. 2026

In a piece for HoopsHype this week, longtime NBA agent Bernie Lee lavished praise on Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who blew Lee away during a free agent meeting last summer. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026