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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
  • The lawsuit argues the incident is part of a larger pattern of excessive force by deputies.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
  • These thunderstorms are producing an excessive amount of deadly cloud to ground lightning.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Roses are celebrated for their exceptional fragrance, abundant varieties, and season-long blooms—and now, there’s one with a royal pedigree.
    Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025
  • Locales that can provide the cheapest, abundant energy while possessing tech-savvy human capital for data centers and tech companies will be at a huge advantage.
    Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • The 1 Hotel Brooklyn delivers a luxurious retreat steps from one of Brooklyn's most magnetic attractions: the Brooklyn Bridge itself.
    Malik Peay, USA Today, 24 May 2025
  • There might be a squeeze for retail space in the Hamptons, but there are enough high-profile launches happening this season to make the shopping scene interesting — and a bit different for those summering on Long Island’s luxurious East End.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • Every morning, prisoners lined up for inspection alongside the corpses of those who had died in the night heaped in a pile next to them.
    Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
  • The decision, after weeks of faltering efforts to agree a ceasefire with Hamas, underlines the threat that a war heaping international pressure on Israel amid dwindling public support at home could continue with no end in sight.
    Maayan Lubell, USA Today, 6 May 2025
Verb
  • Combs could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • Residents of the 8th Congressional District spend an average of 13% of their household income on energy — the highest in the state, according to Department of Commerce data.
    Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 14 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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