lavish 1 of 2

adjective

ˈla-vish How to pronounce lavish (audio)
Definition of lavishnext
1
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount this lavish consumption of our natural resources simply cannot continue

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2
as in abundant
pouring forth in great amounts the lavish praise that the novel was receiving had some wondering if it could ever live up to readers' expectations

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3
as in luxurious
showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort the lavish apartment even boasted a marble bathroom with gold-plated fixtures

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lavish

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to heap
to give readily and in large quantities doting parents lavishing lots of attention on their children

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2
as in to spend
to use up carelessly a great actor who lavished his talent in lousy movies

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word lavish distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lavish are exuberant, lush, luxuriant, prodigal, and profuse. While all these words mean "giving or given out in great abundance," lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

When might exuberant be a better fit than lavish?

The words exuberant and lavish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

In what contexts can lush take the place of lavish?

In some situations, the words lush and lavish are roughly equivalent. However, lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance.

a lush green lawn

When is it sensible to use luxuriant instead of lavish?

Although the words luxuriant and lavish have much in common, luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

a luxuriant beard

When is prodigal a more appropriate choice than lavish?

The synonyms prodigal and lavish are sometimes interchangeable, but prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When would profuse be a good substitute for lavish?

The meanings of profuse and lavish largely overlap; however, profuse implies pouring forth without restraint.

profuse apologies

How is the word lavish distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lavish are exuberant, lush, luxuriant, prodigal, and profuse. While all these words mean "giving or given out in great abundance," lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

When might exuberant be a better fit than lavish?

The words exuberant and lavish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

In what contexts can lush take the place of lavish?

In some situations, the words lush and lavish are roughly equivalent. However, lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance.

a lush green lawn

When is it sensible to use luxuriant instead of lavish?

Although the words luxuriant and lavish have much in common, luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

a luxuriant beard

When is prodigal a more appropriate choice than lavish?

The synonyms prodigal and lavish are sometimes interchangeable, but prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When would profuse be a good substitute for lavish?

The meanings of profuse and lavish largely overlap; however, profuse implies pouring forth without restraint.

profuse apologies

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lavish
Adjective
Try using a straw to make a mocktail more lavish and minimize direct contact between ingredients, such as natural sugar or sparkling water, and your teeth, which can help reduce the risk of enamel erosion and cavities. —Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2026 Amid corruption allegations among officials, residents accused her of using village funds as her own piggy bank by billing taxpayers thousands of dollars for her hair and makeup team as well as going on a lavish trip to Las Vegas. —Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
With revenues soaring, the late President Hugo Chávez, a left-wing populist, lavished cash on Venezuelan masses long excluded from the petroleum windfall. —Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026 As her success grew, she became known for lavishing studio audiences with gifts. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lavish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lavish
  1. excessive
  2. abundant
  3. luxurious
  4. heap
  5. spend
  6. extravagant
  7. plentiful
  8. deluxe
Adjective
  • Auditors said other warning signs for potential fraud included multiple hospices in one building, geographic clustering, low patient counts, high rates of terminally ill patients later discharged alive, excessive billing and staff shared across multiple companies.
    — Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Three deaths by low blood sodium — two resulting from men with mental illness drinking excessive amounts of water in their cells, a rare and avoidable condition, while the third was likely the same cause.
    — Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of excessive
Adjective
  • His point was that the abundant regeneration that Hanson shows off represents scorch, where heat opened the cones to release the multitude of seeds.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Though some have argued that China’s abundant energy and manufacturing capacity give it an edge in the global AI race, Chinese executives say Washington’s restrictions on sales of the most advanced semiconductors are stifling the country’s AI development.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of abundant
Adjective
  • Luckily, today’s affordable beauty is packed with countless high-shine glosses, dewy setting sprays, innovative concealers, and so much more—all of which deliver luxurious results without the luxury price tag.
    — Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Home to over 120 wineries and tasting rooms, Woodinville’s location makes the property an ideal staycation for Washington state locals looking to explore the region’s excellent wines, and a luxurious getaway for travelers seeking to be wined and dined.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of luxurious
Verb
  • John Lindsay opposed the Vietnam War; Ed Koch heaped abuse on the Palestine Liberation Organization; David Dinkins spoke out in favor of dismantling South African apartheid; Rudy Giuliani ejected Yasser Arafat from a concert at Lincoln Center.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Only a heaping tablespoon—or two, or three, depending on your batch size and preference—makes all the difference, adding both flavor and creaminess.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of heap
Verb
  • Gates is also a disciple of longtime head coach Leonard Hamilton, who spent 1990 to 2000 with Miami and led the Hurricanes to a Sweet Sixteen.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
  • These rulings permit corporations, unions and independent groups to raise and spend unlimited sums, provided the spending is not coordinated with campaigns.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of spend
Adjective
  • Unlike Jekyll and Sea Islands—with their extravagant homes, ritzy resorts, and golf courses—the true luxury of LSSI is the unfettered nature.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The gift bag—which is actually a small suitcase—includes everything from extravagant vacations to home renovations to tasty snacks.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of extravagant
Adjective
  • Food is the second factor, with grosbeaks delaying their migration until seeds, berries and insects are more plentiful.
    — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Abalone were once so plentiful, jumping on a surfboard and plucking a bag full off of rocks for dinner was a common pastime, with feasts held right on the sand.
    — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of plentiful
Adjective
  • Then came Heat The Streets and its deluxe version Heat The Streets Some Mo’.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Duff also announced a deluxe version of her new album, luck… or something, and an upcoming tour.
    — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of deluxe

Browse Nearby Words

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lavish
lavished
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Cite this Entry

“Lavish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lavish. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.

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