1
as in plenty
an amount or supply more than sufficient to meet one's needs
a biology textbook that is helpfully illustrated with a plethora of excellent illustrations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surplus
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
the author offers a plethora of detail that tends to overwhelm the reader
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 plethora
DeLuca spent time arguing that school funding, which is the biggest reason for high property taxes, is an ongoing problem with the hungry financial appetites of some districts to always ask the maximum and criticized the plethora of school districts.
—
Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
The spring and summer seasons in particular offer a plethora of bright, beautiful baby names.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
In place of the usual ground meat, a plethora of beans steps in to provide bulk, making the soup seem just as hearty as the original.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
Guys who were invaluable resources for the plethora of guys in their early 20s, still making their way in the NHL and in the adult world.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plethora
Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
The spring and summer seasons in particular offer a plethora of bright, beautiful baby names.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
In place of the usual ground meat, a plethora of beans steps in to provide bulk, making the soup seem just as hearty as the original.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
Guys who were invaluable resources for the plethora of guys in their early 20s, still making their way in the NHL and in the adult world.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plethora
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plethora
Noun
-
Will the Rockies, who have a surplus of young outfielders, make a spring training trade?—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The law aims to dramatically reduce landfill waste — especially organic waste — and requires many businesses to donate edible surplus food to organizations like Feeding San Diego.—
Patty Oconnor,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The main attraction was its abundance of outdoor space, including a front balcony, a rooftop deck and a garden area.—
Carisa Crawford Chappell,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds are drawn to the abundance, taking advantage of a resource that is otherwise scarce.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ellison acquired Weiss’s the Free Press, a centrist digital news site that often targets excesses of the political left and is staunchly pro-Israel.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Stomach-turning excesses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have turned many Americans’ abstract political preference into something uncomfortably concrete.—
George F. Will,
Washington Post,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the Delta, too, a white minority has held most of the wealth and farmland.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
But owning his own island also represented Epstein’s entrée into a new tier of elite wealth – a powerful symbol for the former schoolteacher who grew up in a working-class Brooklyn family.—
Isabelle Chapman,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plethora.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plethora. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
