Definition of lushnext
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as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously lush dandelions had turned the meadow into a sea of yellow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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lush

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lush distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

a lush green lawn

When would exuberant be a good substitute for lush?

The words exuberant and lush can be used in similar contexts, but exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

When is lavish a more appropriate choice than lush?

The meanings of lavish and lush largely overlap; however, lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

When is it sensible to use luxuriant instead of lush?

The words luxuriant and lush are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

a luxuriant beard

When could prodigal be used to replace lush?

In some situations, the words prodigal and lush are roughly equivalent. However, prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When can profuse be used instead of lush?

Although the words profuse and lush have much in common, 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 lush
Adjective
Trade the bustle of the country’s big cities for the golden beaches, charming villages, lush vineyards, and unhurried rhythm of this Mediterranean haven. Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026 My teenage aunts, entrusted with the care of thousands of white larvae feasting on lush, thick mulberry leaves, had to get up in the middle of the night to scatter more leaves into the trays. Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
Keep your lawn lush and tidy with an eco-friendly electric lawn mower, and stash away pool toys or outdoor throw cushions in a lockable deck box. Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2026 Mane Attractions Frizz fighters, volume boosters, curl definers—these haircare heroes do it all and leave your strands looking salon-level lush. Jackie Fields, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lush
Adjective
  • While the species can reach large tree height, selecting a smaller bush variety that produces blue-green fruits in fall is a plus for the garden.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Demario Davis will be the Jets’ green-dot linebacker, receiving the defensive calls from Glenn.
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The White House has repeatedly touted the economic impact that the sanctions have had on Iran, citing its rampant inflation and the massive loss in the value of its currency.
    Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The third-country deportations also include places so dangerous the State Department warns Americans to not travel there, like the Central African Republic, a landlocked country where armed conflict and violent crime are rampant.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Its rooftop bar, Zefiro, is a hotspot for creative cocktails with views of the Duomo, while a restaurant by Korean-American chef Akira Back, who trained under Nobu, brings delicious Japanese fusion cuisine to a city dominated by pasta and steak.
    Laura Itzkowitz, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Cast your mind back to the winter of 2024 and the delicious second season of The Traitors.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • During the water-cure craze of the late nineteenth century, Te Aroha was a thriving spa town.
    Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Britain still has major advantages, from world-class museums and galleries to a thriving creative economy, but competing internationally will require more ambitious philanthropy.
    George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • His focus is on himself, his music, his sensual pleasures and his determination not to be anyone’s victim.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Nick Interlandi’s soundscapes swell with the rat-a-tat of machine guns, or zero in on the precise, satisfying crunch of glass cracking under bone, while Oren Soffer’s cinematography runs the gamut from sickly clinical to startlingly sensual.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Along the way, the train runs more than 590 miles through the fertile Fraser Valley, the Coast Mountains, and the dramatic Fraser Canyon before climbing toward the Canadian Rockies.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Denmark says more than 4,000 women and girls — reportedly half the fertile women in Greenland at the time — received IUDs between the 1960s and mid-1970s.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The answers to these questions are very important to our community of addicts and alcoholics, both in and out of recovery.
    David Manheim, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Dad is an abusive alcoholic, prone to berating and even assaulting his daughter in front of guests, of which Vangelio is currently the only one.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The trial is being closely watched for its implications for other fatal high-speed crashes that don't involve drugs or alcohol.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Genetics, smoking and alcohol use are risk factors, but Kingham says changing diets are the biggest cause of the global increase.
    Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lush. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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