lush 1 of 2

1
2
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously lush dandelions had turned the meadow into a sea of yellow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5
6

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
It’s located in a dramatic desert setting, with lush green fairways surrounded by red rock canyons and plenty of severe elevation changes. Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025 It was set in lush gardens of oleander and bougainvillea, which climbed into the towering vegetation planted by founder Prince Alfonso de Hohenloe-Langenburg, a German-Spanish aristocrat who made Marbella a resort town. Alexandra Shulman, Air Mail, 14 June 2025
Noun
Bell's Brewery has big plans for 2023: 5 top takeaways WeldWerks opened in Greeley in 2015 and quickly became a cult favorite in a state lush with craft beer. Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2023 In West Long Beach, Ms. Hollins has lived and worked for the past 30 years out of her one-story ranch house, set on a property lush with trees, native plants and shrubbery. Eileen Guo, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for lush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lush
Adjective
  • For the first installment, U.S. photographer Alec Soth shot the lush green scenery and karst limestone mountains near the Li river in Guilin.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
  • The section behind the goal nearest Charlotte’s skyline was packed with waving green and red flags, drums and nonstop chants.
    Shane Connuck June 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Cyberattacks against companies have been rampant for years, but a string of attacks on retail companies have raised awareness of the issue because the breaches can impact customers.
    Ani Freedman, Fortune, 20 June 2025
  • A lot of those respondents claimed to dislike the technology — but its widespread adoption implies a subtle incursion, and the implications of this rampant use are devastating.
    Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • Two of them—Bertha Russell on The Gilded Age and Gloria Burgle on Fargo—have earned her Emmy nominations, and that number seems likely to grow thanks to her delicious performance as Laurie, an uptight workaholic in the midst of a midlife crisis in The White Lotus season three.
    Sam Reed, Glamour, 23 June 2025
  • Roasting them low and slow in a preheated oven, or cooking them slowly in a slow cooker, smoker, or sous vide before finishing on the grill or under the broiler, can all yield tender, delicious results.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Leaders who invest in the holistic health of their workforce can foster resilience, drive performance and cultivate a thriving organizational culture.
    Loubna Noureddin, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • What makes this destination particularly exciting to visit is the chance to explore its thriving arts scene.
    Essence, Essence, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Misner’s sensual signature look speaks in service to the contours of the body, using draping techniques to extend and celebrate curves.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 24 June 2025
  • Your sensual pleasure and romantic desires will never be the same again once Uranus enters mutable Gemini on July 7.
    Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • So the human quest for fertilizer—substances to make the soil fertile—followed fast on the heels of agriculture itself.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 29 June 2025
  • In the Veneto region, vineyards stretch across gravelly river plains and fertile plains near the Adriatic Sea.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Joel even has time for regular therapy sessions with the town’s resident psychoanalyst/alcoholic Gail (O’Hara), in an effort to reconcile with Ellie.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Jong also is an alcoholic who long used her daughter’s life in her work.
    Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • Amid the frenzied party — which included Sam Reinhart climbing a stripper pole, Brad Marchand crowd surfing and, yes, plenty of booze flowing — a key player might have revealed big news regarding his future with the team.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
  • The booze was part of it, a likely symptom at first, and later a cause.
    Mark Kriegel June 4, Literary Hub, 4 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lush. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on lush

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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