Definition of luxuriantnext
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as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously a luxuriant coat of fur

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word luxuriant distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

a luxuriant beard

When is exuberant a more appropriate choice than luxuriant?

In some situations, the words exuberant and luxuriant are roughly equivalent. However, exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

When could lavish be used to replace luxuriant?

While the synonyms lavish and luxuriant are close in meaning, lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

In what contexts can lush take the place of luxuriant?

The meanings of lush and luxuriant largely overlap; however, lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance.

a lush green lawn

Where would prodigal be a reasonable alternative to luxuriant?

Although the words prodigal and luxuriant have much in common, prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When might profuse be a better fit than luxuriant?

The words profuse and luxuriant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 luxuriant But now all that luxuriant coat is starting to come off. Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026 The luxuriant texture combined with the umami depth-charge can stun a table into silence. Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 12 Mar. 2026 In luxuriant landscapes, Shinomiya’s trio (voiced by Riku Hagiwara, Kotone Furukawa and Miyu Irino) throw lines at each other with strong alchemy. Kevin Giraud, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026 Myrtle is much better matched by the title creature itself, a one-eyed puffball (Americans might compare it to the ‘90s Post Honeycomb cereal mascot) that flits and flies around with its luxuriant auburn coat fluttering in the breeze. Katie Rife, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for luxuriant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for luxuriant
Adjective
  • Prolonged periods of drought are scorching French pastures, leeching them of their usual lush green vitality and leaving behind parched, lifeless yellow fields.
    Vivian Song, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Heat and uneven rainfall have stressed forests in some areas, while timely moisture has kept others lush.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • The family-friendly resort offers a host of amenities, including complimentary kayaks and paddleboards to use at the private beach, two heated pools, a luxurious spa, and more.
    Megan duBois, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In fact, the tapestry’s most singular attribute is its luxurious use of horizontal space.
    John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
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
  • Jeon-Gi lives with his Korean family in Building A, scrapping with kids from other immigrant families in a weedy playground.
    Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
  • Your neighbors probably won't be bothered by your weedy flower beds or rusty lawn furniture.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Ascherson still regularly produces lengthy pieces for The New York Review of Books and the London Review of Books, and has been one of the most prolific contributors to each publication.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The industry received the announcement of Ackermann in September, after Hawkings’s defenestration in July, warmly and with an exhale—the legacy of Tom Ford, one of fashion’s most prolific contemporary designers, appeared secure.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The deluxe version of Rumi is 11 1/2-inches tall and has 11 points of articulation.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Other benefits in that tier include a complimentary minibar setup, complimentary afternoon tea served in the stateroom, and a deluxe canapé selection on formal nights.
    Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Luxuriant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luxuriant. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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