Illustration of acanthus
- acanthus 2
acanthus
noun
acan·thus
ə-ˈkan(t)-thəs 
plural acanthus
1
: any of a genus (Acanthus of the family Acanthaceae, the acanthus family) of prickly perennial herbs chiefly of the Mediterranean region
2
: an ornamentation (as in a Corinthian capital) representing or suggesting the leaves of the acanthus
Examples of acanthus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While vintage-looking grandmillennial floral wallpapers can be pleasantly old-timey, avoid damask and acanthus leaf patterns at all costs.
—
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
Visitors to the British galleries can climb the stairs, with their intricate carvings of acanthus foliage, oak leaves and other vegetation, to inspect a new mezzanine area.
—Peter Saenger, WSJ, 23 Jan. 2020
Hillsides of unruly acanthus — nature's template for Corinthian columns — precede the Domus Augustana.
—Washington Post, 12 July 2019
Instead of angels and saints, there were soldiers beheading one another; instead of Madonnas and Christs, there were pregnant women sprouting from acanthus buds.
—Junot Díaz, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2018
The acanthus leaves on the column have remained consistent over millennia and, over time, have come to represent more than just a sturdy plant.
—Phil Edwards, Vox, 28 Mar. 2018
The bezels on each center stone are composed of acanthus leaves sculpted in gold.
—Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, 6 Mar. 2018
The native black walnut, darkened with lamp black and oiled with linseed oil, was carved with life-like birds, flowers and acanthus leaves that can be seen on so much of their work.
—Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati.com, 5 May 2017
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Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
Visitors to the British galleries can climb the stairs, with their intricate carvings of acanthus foliage, oak leaves and other vegetation, to inspect a new mezzanine area.
—Peter Saenger, WSJ, 23 Jan. 2020
Hillsides of unruly acanthus — nature's template for Corinthian columns — precede the Domus Augustana.
—Washington Post, 12 July 2019
Instead of angels and saints, there were soldiers beheading one another; instead of Madonnas and Christs, there were pregnant women sprouting from acanthus buds.
—Junot Díaz, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2018
The acanthus leaves on the column have remained consistent over millennia and, over time, have come to represent more than just a sturdy plant.
—Phil Edwards, Vox, 28 Mar. 2018
The bezels on each center stone are composed of acanthus leaves sculpted in gold.
—Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, 6 Mar. 2018
The native black walnut, darkened with lamp black and oiled with linseed oil, was carved with life-like birds, flowers and acanthus leaves that can be seen on so much of their work.
—Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati.com, 5 May 2017
Cite this Entry
“Acanthus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acanthus. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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