lavish 1 of 2

Definition of lavishnext
1
2
3

lavish

2 of 2

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
Her and Bezos’s families were officially blended in June 2025, when the couple held a lavish wedding ceremony in Venice, Italy. Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 June 2026 Authorities allege the majority of the funds were used to make lavish purchases and buy real estate. Claire Wang, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Verb
Kerr, who has also lavished praise upon Brown, 56, whenever asked about him, made sure to give Atkinson his due before a December game in Cleveland. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 May 2026 Sources close to Calvert-Lewin have lavished praise on how impressive this and subsequent calls were with the Leeds hierarchy, while United felt that the first pitch turned the striker’s curiosity about the club into a realisation that this could really work for him. Beren Cross, New York Times, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for lavish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lavish
Adjective
  • The federal government's warning about the dangers of excessive screen time is sending shockwaves through households and classrooms alike, drawing comparisons to public health crises of the past.
    La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 11 June 2026
  • Social media users have documented taking excessive amounts of diphenhydramine in an attempt to overcome the medication's drowsy effects and experience a euphoric feeling.
    Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Nottingham team engineered their materials entirely from earth-abundant, inexpensive elements.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 June 2026
  • As information becomes faster, cheaper and more abundant, the ability to properly filter that information becomes exponentially more important.
    Kevin Brady, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • All game was fair game, and eating wild things was both luxurious and banal—throughout the country the consumption of wild animals was entirely typical.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
  • The spa Tucked away from the hotel’s main areas is the luxurious Lanesborough Club & Spa, an urban oasis widely recognized as one of the city's most exclusive wellness addresses.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • Yet the extremist group has mobilized its members and media outlets to ramp up criticism of the agreement, heaping pressure on Iranian negotiators who have been attempting to extract concessions from a US administration intent on weakening – and possibly ending – the Islamic Republic.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
  • Little surprise that the pair explore the wider context of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup triumph, namely the military dictatorship that sapped national pride and heaped enormous pressure on a team — one who’d stunk up the tournament four years earlier — to restore it.
    Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • But with a growing awareness of the mental health risks posed by children spending too much time online, Starmer has decided to go further after speaking to parents and considering evidence from Australia, which brought in a ban for under-16s last year.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
  • Carolina spent the first part of the Stanley Cup Final surviving, finding ways to overcome deficits and play a high-scoring game that didn’t fit the Hurricanes’ typical style.
    Mark Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Rather than trying to gulp the slimy thing down, Wilkinson went into the kitchen and prepared an extravagant breakfast for himself, complete with Dr Pepper to wash it down.
    Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 12 June 2026
  • Often referred to as the Versailles Townhouse, the property is among the Upper East Side‘s most extravagant private residences.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • Scavengers were plentiful on the more recent remains, with one whale fall hosting up to 2,840 organisms in a single square meter.
    Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
  • Like most Travelon products, its anti-theft features—like locking zippers and a hidden pocket perfect for keeping a passport —are plentiful.
    Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • At the same time, BTS widely shares a tune that was originally only featured on a deluxe version of Arirang, which was made available to purchase on vinyl.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
  • Although Kirby Smart and mascot Hairy Dawg made the rather crowded deluxe cover of the college football game in 2026, no Georgia or Georgia Tech player has ever received such an honor.
    Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 3 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lavish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lavish. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on lavish

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster