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

This year's emergence wasn't quite as prolific but still gave mites plenty of fodder. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2025

The actor is equally prolific on the small screen, with notable roles on Ozark (2017–2018), Westworld (2018–2020), and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022–2024). —EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025

The crew was prolific, hitting targets around California’s Central Valley but also as far away as Washington state and Nebraska. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025

Birdlife is diverse and prolific here, and the landscapes—dry riverbeds, doum palms, and towering peaks—are pure cinematic beauty. —Chris Liebenberg, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2025