Fulsome — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈfu̇l-səm/ ful·some

Meaning & Definition of Fulsome

Fulsome (adjective)

  1. characterized by abundance, copious
  2. generous in amount, extent, or spirit
  3. being full and well developed

Fulsome (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. overly or insincerely flattering

    "the player's fulsome praise for the coach showed just how hard he was trying to be named captain of the team"

    similar: adulatory, gushing, gushy, hagiographic, oily, oleaginous, soapy, unctuous
    related: drooling, slavering, slobbering, cloying, sickening, demonstrative, effusive, mushy, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained, artificial, backhanded, feigned, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealymouthed, sanctimonious, two-faced, disarming, endearing, ingratiating, winning, winsome, extravagant, lavish, abundant, copious, profuse
    near: artless, earnest, genuine, heartfelt, honest, ingenuous, sincere, true, unaffected, unfeigned, unpretending, unpretentious

  2. giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation

    "grateful survivors who were fulsome in their praise of the rescue team"

    similar: bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, free, freehanded, freehearted, generous, liberal, munificent, open, openhanded, unselfish, unsparing, unstinting
    related: extravagant, handsome, lavish, overgenerous, profuse, altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, hospitable, humanitarian, philanthropic, big, greathearted, largehearted, magnanimous, openhearted, compassionate, good-hearted, kind, kindly, samaritan, sympathetic
    opposite: cheap, close, closefisted, costive, illiberal (archaic), mingy, miserly, parsimonious, penurious, selfish, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous
    near: mean, petty, small, frugal, spare, sparing, thrifty, chary, stinting, acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious, begrudging, envious, grudging, resentful

  3. causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

    "the author perpetuates some truly fulsome stereotypes in her novel"

    similar: abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul, gross, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, noxious, obnoxious, obscene, odious, offensive, rancid, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening, ugly
    related: exceptionable, objectionable, brackish, disagreeable, dislikable, unpleasant, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hard, hateful, unhealthy, unsavory, unwholesome, execrable, lousy, miserable, atrocious, frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, gruesome, heinous, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, sick, sickish, sickly, terrible, unspeakable, vile, off-putting, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome, barbarous, unchristian, uncivilized, ungodly, unholy, distressing, disturbing, upsetting
    opposite: innocuous, inoffensive
    near: acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, attractive, blessed, congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory, sweet, welcome, unexceptionable, unobjectionable, healthful, healthy, restorative, salubrious, salutary, wholesome

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Fulsome

The most common words with a similar meaning to Fulsome:

adulatory, gushing, gushy, hagiographic, oily, oleaginous, soapy, unctuous, bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, free, freehanded, freehearted, generous, liberal, munificent, open, openhanded, unselfish, unsparing, unstinting, abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul, gross, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Fulsome

Words with the opposite meaning of Fulsome:

cheap, close, closefisted, costive, illiberal, mingy, miserly, parsimonious, penurious, selfish, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous, innocuous, inoffensive

Related Words for Fulsome

drooling, slavering, slobbering, cloying, demonstrative, effusive, mushy, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained, artificial, backhanded, feigned, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealymouthed, sanctimonious, two-faced, disarming, endearing, ingratiating, winning, winsome, extravagant, lavish, abundant, copious, profuse, handsome

Near Antonyms of Fulsome

artless, earnest, genuine, heartfelt, honest, ingenuous, sincere, true, unaffected, unfeigned, unpretending, unpretentious, mean, petty, small, frugal, spare, sparing, thrifty, chary, acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, hoggish, itchy, mercenary

Word Forms of Fulsome

Derived words: fulsomely (adverb), fulsomeness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Fulsome

Middle English fulsom, foulsome "abundant, well-fed, plump, arousing disgust," from ful, foul full:1 + -som, -some -some

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Fulsome

What does "Fulsome" mean?

"Fulsome" means characterized by abundance, copious. As an adjective, it is defined as: characterized by abundance, copious. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Fulsome"?

Other words for "Fulsome" include adulatory, gushing, gushy, hagiographic, oily, oleaginous, soapy and unctuous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Fulsome" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Fulsome"?

There are 152 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Fulsome". Common alternatives include adulatory, gushing, gushy, hagiographic, oily, oleaginous, soapy, unctuous, bighearted and bounteous.

What is the opposite of "Fulsome"?

Antonyms of "Fulsome" include cheap, close, closefisted, costive, illiberal, mingy, miserly and parsimonious. Near antonyms include artless, earnest, genuine and heartfelt.

How do you use "Fulsome" in a sentence?

Examples of "Fulsome" in a sentence: "the player's fulsome praise for the coach showed just how hard he was trying to be named captain of the team"; "grateful survivors who were fulsome in their praise of the rescue team"; "the author perpetuates some truly fulsome stereotypes in her novel".

Is "Fulsome" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Fulsome" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Fulsome"?

"Fulsome" is pronounced /ˈfu̇l-səm/ and divided into syllables as ful·some.

What is the origin of the word "Fulsome"?

"Fulsome" comes from Middle English fulsom, foulsome "abundant, well-fed, plump, arousing disgust," from ful, foul full:1 + -som, -some -some. First known use: 14th century.