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
• 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

The change of scenery helped Haggerty develop into one of the nation’s most prolific scorers. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026

To a witty rhyming libretto by Nicholas Wright, the music is by Rachel Portman, a prolific composer of scores for films including The Joy Luck Club, Emma and The Manchurian Candidate. —Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026

Curry missed a second consecutive game with runner’s knee, but the Warriors still found a way to get up 3-point shots at a prolific rate. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026

Planting Seed Potatoes in Containers Smaller types of potatoes such as fingerling potatoes are well-suited for containers and often produce prolific harvests in a relatively small space. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2026