fulsome

The definition of fulsome is something abundant or bountiful, or praise that is heaped or lavished on to the point of being excessive.

(adjective)

  1. When your corn harvest produces three times as much corn as last year's harvest did, this is an example of a harvest that would be described as fulsome.
  2. When you keep going on and on and on about how delicious someone's cooking is to the point where people are annoyed by your repeated praise, this is an example of comments which would be described as fulsome.

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See fulsome in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. disgusting or offensive, esp. because excessive or insincere: fulsome praise
  2. Origin: apparent revival of the orig. sense, obs. since 16th c.

    full; ample; abundant: usage objected to by some

Origin: ME fulsom, abundant, disgustingly excessive < ful, full + -som, -some, but infl. by ful, foul

Related Forms:

See fulsome in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Offensively flattering or insincere. See Synonyms at unctuous.
  2. Offensive to the taste or sensibilities.
  3. Usage Problem Copious or abundant.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English fulsom, abundant, well-fed, arousing disgust

Origin: : ful, full; see full1

Origin: + -som, adj. suff.; see -some1

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Related Forms:

  • fulˈsome·ly adverb
  • fulˈsome·ness noun
Usage Note: Fulsome is often used to mean “offensively flattering or insincere.” But the word is also used, particularly in the expression fulsome praise, to mean simply “abundant,” without any implication of excess or insincerity. This usage is etymologically justified but may invite misunderstandings in contexts in which a deprecatory interpretation could be made. The sentence I offer you my most fulsome apologies may raise an eyebrow, where the use of an adjective like full or abundant would leave no room for doubt as to the sincerity of the speaker's intentions.

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