lush 1 of 2

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

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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

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
Overfeeding Giving a plant too much food, particularly nitrogen, encourages lush, soft growth that insects and diseases relish. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026 The dramatic road linking Arcos and Ronda cuts through the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, famed throughout Spain for its lush and rugged mountain scenery. Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
Verdict: Mulligan’s kooky cameo imbues this tragic lush with a dash of camp. Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Nov. 2023 Garvey, 74, launched his campaign with a video lush with baseball imagery that recalled his career as a perennial All-Star who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2023 See All Example Sentences for lush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lush
Adjective
  • Built around a compact semiconductor laser framework, the system integrates a multi-wavelength configuration operating across green, blue, and infrared laser bands.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The student council announced that everyone should wear green to school on what would have been his 16th birthday.
    Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Others are here because their parents are seeking refuge from countries where violence is rampant and children are at risk of being forced into drug cartels, human trafficking or worse.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Since 2022, when the state published its audit report, California's Department of Public Health has issued enforcement actions against seven hospice facilities statewide — despite the state auditor warning that fraud was rampant.
    Graham Kates, CBS News, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • And a recent trip to Costco had the perfect restaurant copycat product to kick things off in delicious, budget-friendly style.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Today, visitors can still tour its founding castle and its Museum of Arms, stroll its cobblestone streets, and duck into its delicious restaurants serving traditional meals.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Once home to thriving populations of the state's iconic staghorn and elkhorn corals, the ecosystem has been in steady decline for decades because of pollution, disease, invasive species, warming waters, and damage from boaters, divers and snorkelers.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Hiram Crombie has a thriving trading post set up that is bursting with tenants of the Ridge.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The show is set in 2018, closer to the Ashley Madison–fallout era, when the intersection of technology and societal fracture opens the gate for Clark to break out of suburban malaise and into a wonderland of sensual, albeit pedestrian, delights.
    Andy Andersen, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Home of powerhouses like Prada, Bottega Veneta, and Marni (just to name a few), the city has long set the tone for a distinctly Italian brand of glamour–sensual, sophisticated, and just a touch of daring.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Or think of how extreme weather can disrupt voting access, creating real and perceived grievances that are fertile ground for authoritarian interference in elections.
    Michael Chertoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Nwosu is digging around in fertile ground, but there’s always a sense that things could go deeper.
    Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Dinner is a three-course meal, accompanied by one complimentary alcoholic beverage, with additional menu options available.
    Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
  • AlAnon is a support group for family and friends of alcoholics/addicts.
    Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The operator of the e-scooter was arrested on suspicion of operating a bicycle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and DUI causing bodily injury, after officers conducted several field sobriety tests, police said.
    Jose Fabian, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Astronomers studying the interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS have discovered the comet is unusually rich in alcohol — a chemical clue that could reveal how planets and icy bodies form around other stars.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lush. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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