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verb

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

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 lavish
Adjective
The Met has marshalled its lavish resources to present its first new staging of the work since 2004: hulking sets, images of artful horror, Wagnerian voices, a monster orchestra unleashing a storm of sound. Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 May 2025 Meanwhile, singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh wore a lavish, torso-spanning necklace to the event that echoed the ceremonial 1,000 carat-diamond necklace Cartier designed for Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala in the 1920s, now on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Milenna Lazazzera, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
Verb
While seemingly unlimited resources are lavished on visual effects, the drama is allowed to tie itself into impossible knots. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025 Losing Lopez for an unspecified time merely confirms the executive’s reluctance to lavish long and loaded contracts on free agents. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lavish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lavish
Adjective
  • These thunderstorms are producing an excessive amount of deadly cloud to ground lightning.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2025
  • Among its findings were that Banks used excessive force and falsely imprisoned Myles; that Banks’ use of his dog violated Myles’ Fourth Amendment rights; that Banks and the county were both negligent; and that the county violated Myles’ civil rights by failing to properly train and supervise Banks.
    Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Investment in nuclear power is growing in the U.S. after a long period of financial turmoil for the industry, including the shutdown of a dozen reactors in recent years as the industry struggled to compete against cheap and abundant natural gas.
    Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 23 May 2025
  • With warmer weather comes fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables packed with abundant nutrients.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • The portfolio features a range of expressions, from the crisp Blanco to the luxurious Ultima Reserva Extra Añejo.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Leave it up to Sferra to render the traditional ruffled bedskirt in a rich, luxurious way.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • Whenever there appeared to be a lull in Lee’s case and the narrative threatened to shift toward scrutiny of the police for their lack of hard evidence or progress in the case, a new leak would emerge to re-inflame public outcry, conveniently heaping more pressure on the actor to cooperate.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
  • The collapse has heaped pressure on medical facilities in the neighbouring city of Omdurman, across the Nile.
    Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Their specials may wade into bleaker territory but the six top comics gathered for THR’s Stand-Up Emmy Roundtable spent most of their time together in stitches.
    Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 25 May 2025
  • For example, the 256GB version’s price is $1,100 – roughly 86% more than the $580 Apple spent for all the hardware, the assembly and the testing, reported the Wall Street Journal.
    Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • On Tuesday, May 13, Trump's visit included a coffee ceremony, participation in a Saudi-U.S investment forum, a visit to a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an extravagant state dinner.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • The family has plowed some of their wealth into an extravagant fleet of roughly a dozen Airbus and Boeing airliners converted into luxurious rides for a small number of passengers, as well as smaller business jets from Bombardier and Dassault.
    Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • The logistics would be plentiful, but hosting an NHL Stanley Cup playoff game during a Katy Perry concert in the same building at the same time would be one hell of a night of entertainment.
    Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2025
  • Helium-3 is rare on Earth but is thought to be plentiful on the moon.
    Julian Dossett, Space.com, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • Later this month, Green Day will release the deluxe edition of its most recent album Saviors.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • The new album is a deluxe version of León’s 2024 Palabra de To’s.
    Griselda Flores, Billboard, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lavish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lavish. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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