Synonyms of prolific

prolific

adjective

prə-ˈli-fik 

as in fertile

producing abundantly

a famously prolific author who could produce several works of fiction and nonfiction a year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fertile
• rich
• productive
• fruitful
• creative
• fecund
• lush
• abundant
• inventive
• generative
• generous
• producing
• plentiful
• luxuriant
• cornucopian
• fructuous
• bountiful
• fat
• copious
• bearing
• thriving
• yielding
• liberal
• original
• flourishing
• bursting
• blooming
• plenteous
• abounding
• teeming
• swarming
• plenitudinous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unproductive
• dead
• sterile
• barren
• infertile
• unfruitful
• sparse
• unfertile
• meager
• scanty
• scant
• spare
• meagre
• skimpy
• skimp

Synonym Chooser

How is the word prolific distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of prolific are fecund, fertile, and fruitful. While all these words mean "producing or capable of producing offspring or fruit," prolific stresses rapidity of spreading or multiplying by or as if by natural reproduction.

a prolific writer

When is fecund a more appropriate choice than prolific?

The meanings of fecund and prolific largely overlap; however, fecund emphasizes abundance or rapidity in bearing fruit or offspring.

a fecund herd

When is it sensible to use fertile instead of prolific?

The words fertile and prolific are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fertile implies the power to reproduce in kind or to assist in reproduction and growth; applied figuratively, it suggests readiness of invention and development.

fertile soil

a fertile imagination

How does the word fruitful relate to other synonyms for prolific?

Fruitful adds to fertile and fecund the implication of desirable or useful results.

fruitful research

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of prolific

From the mind of prolific writer John Scalzi comes the story of a cat who plans world domination. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025

In over two decades of prolific dance making for companies around the globe, the soon-to-be 52-year-old became fascinated with telling stories of eminent Latin figures including artists Frida Kahlo and Fernando Botero and First Lady of Argentina Eva Perón. —Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025

Goodbye… you book lover, hopeless romantic, and prolific serial killer. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025

The prolific interest around natural wines in the past decade has permitted a new audience for organic wines as many natural wines are a result of organic practices, even if they may not be certified organic. —Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025