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Meaning & use

fulsome

adjective·Advancedformal

Last updated

UK/ˈfʊlsəm/
US/ˈfʊlsəm/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noundisapproving

    Offering praise, thanks or apology in such large amounts that it sounds overdone or not quite sincere.

    Grammar: Usually sits before a noun: fulsome praise, not 'the praise was fulsome' in careful writing.

    Patterns

    • fulsome praise for something
    • fulsome apology to someone

    The manager's fulsome compliments made the whole team suspect he wanted something in return.

    She sent a fulsome apology, but it was so long that it felt rehearsed.

    He was embarrassed by the fulsome introduction the host gave him.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Generous, full and complete in amount or detail, with no negative judgment intended.

    Grammar: Describes thanks, coverage or support that is plentiful: a fulsome report.

    Patterns

    • fulsome support
    • fulsome coverage of something

    The newspaper gave the festival fulsome coverage over three days.

    We are grateful for your fulsome support during the campaign.

    The committee asked for a more fulsome account of how the money was spent.

Word forms

comparativemore fulsome
superlativemost fulsome

Common combinations

fulsome praise
The critic's fulsome praise helped the little film find an audience.
fulsome apology
The airline issued a fulsome apology to stranded passengers.
fulsome thanks
She offered fulsome thanks to everyone who had helped.
fulsome compliments
His fulsome compliments sounded false to her.
fulsome tribute
Colleagues paid a fulsome tribute at his retirement dinner.

Synonyms and how they differ

effusive
Effusive stresses gushing, openly emotional enthusiasm, while fulsome stresses the sheer amount and may hint at insincerity.
lavish
Lavish suggests generous giving and is almost always positive, whereas fulsome can sound excessive.
sycophantic
Sycophantic is much harsher, describing flattery aimed at winning favor, which fulsome only hints at.
abundant
Abundant simply means plentiful and carries no suggestion of insincerity.

Opposites

restrainedgrudging

Word family

fulsomely adverb
in an excessive or very generous way
fulsomeness noun
the quality of being fulsome
full adjective
the root word, meaning containing as much as possible

Commonly confused: fulsome or full?

fulsome vs full

Full just means holding as much as possible; fulsome is about praise or detail and can imply excess.

Practice

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