Definition of luxuriousnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word luxurious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of luxurious are sensual, sensuous, and voluptuous. While all these words mean "relating to or providing pleasure through gratification of the senses," luxurious suggests the indulgence of sensuous pleasure inducing bodily ease and languor.

a luxurious hotel

When is it sensible to use sensual instead of luxurious?

The synonyms sensual and luxurious are sometimes interchangeable, but sensual tends to imply the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of the physical appetites as ends in themselves.

a life devoted to sensual pleasures

When is sensuous a more appropriate choice than luxurious?

In some situations, the words sensuous and luxurious are roughly equivalent. However, sensuous implies gratification of the senses for the sake of aesthetic pleasure.

the sensuous delights of great music

When might voluptuous be a better fit than luxurious?

The meanings of voluptuous and luxurious largely overlap; however, voluptuous implies more strongly an abandonment especially to sensual pleasure.

a voluptuous feast

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 luxurious While Atlanta’s luxury hotels are mainly sequestered to corporate Midtown and Buckhead, Forth’s arrival in Old Fourth Ward brings an exciting luxurious element to the neighborhood. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026 The four-way stretch structure results in clothes that naturally adjust to fit body sizes from extra-small to large without losing their shape or offering a luxurious feel. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026 Though delightful to the touch, the luxurious fabric doesn’t exactly present a formidable barrier. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Oct. 2026 Airlines have been spending years and hundreds of millions of dollars to expand their pricier seats, capitalizing on demand for roomier options and travelers' appetite for more luxurious trips. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for luxurious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for luxurious
Adjective
  • Joji is also getting in on the fun with a deluxe edition of Piss In The Wind, featuring new tracks and instrumentals.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Wilson’s work in music includes the albums Sound of a Woman, released earlier this year (a deluxe version dropped in September); AM/FM; Rita Wilson; Bigger Picture, and Halfway to Home.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Unlike many other leftists, who saw the Nazis as mere puppets of capitalism, Seghers understood the raw, sensual appeal of the Fascist message.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Vanilla Bouclé offers a similar sensual scent experience, this time leaning more into the sweetness of gourmands and woody notes like white almond, coconut milk, sandalwood and chamomile.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • That philosophy heavily shapes Varas’s work in ultra-luxury residential building.
    — Kelly Allen, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Several residents — Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis included — are raising concerns about a controversial plan to build four ultra-luxury glass towers that would rise 270 feet high on Fort Lauderdale’s landmark Pier Sixty-Six property.
    — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The happy couple, naturally, take occasional breaks to sip champagne, soak in a bubble bath and lasciviously feed each other ice cream amid the barely dressed, hedonistic debauchery.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In the series, which began its second season last month, Okeniyi plays Leighton Vance, billionaire tech chief; Leighton Vance, hedonistic nepo baby; and Leighton Vance, spiritual guru.
    — Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Olivia Miles, the rookie point guard for the Minnesota Lynx, wears a pair of bug-eyed sports goggles, black and bulbous, sometimes held in place by a thick strap that runs through her luxuriant Afro.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • At the end of the fifth group, one girl’s face blossomed into a radiant flower, and another drew herself with luxuriant pigtails, standing beneath a bright red beating heart.
    — James Gordon, Time, 14 July 2026
Adjective
  • Today, a number of wellness services have tuned into the island's rugged and sybaritic sides.
    — Adrienne Matei, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Marbella is once again attracting a moneyed, glamorous crowd, with sybaritic beach clubs, fashion pop-ups, standout restaurants, and sprawling spas that promise head-to-toe pampering.
    — Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • The deep crimson drapes, white tablecloths, and understated gold accents at T’ang evoke a lavish Chinese mansion.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
  • As a whole, the ballet’s arc can feel unfocussed, arhythmic—some parts overstuffed with action, others failing to fill with expressive movement Joby Talbot’s lavish score.
    — Hannah Aizenman, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Ben is a real talent and will craft a beautiful and compelling documentary.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Starting the fourth with beautiful field position, the Bruins needed three plays to score.
    — Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Luxurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luxurious. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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