fulsome Meaning & Definition
What Does Fulsome Mean?
As an adjective, fulsome means Offensive to good taste, tactless, overzealous, excessive. It is also used to mean Excessively flattering (connoting insincerity).
Fulsome: Key Facts
| Part of speech | adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈfʊlsəm// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | unctuous, insincere and oleaginous |
| Comparative / superlative | fulsomer, fulsomest |
Fulsome Definition (Adjective)
- Offensive to good taste, tactless, overzealous, excessive.
- Excessively flattering (connoting insincerity).
- Characterised or marked by fullness; abundant, copious.
The fulsome thanks of the war-torn nation lifted our weary spirits.
- Fully developed; mature.
Her fulsome timbre resonated throughout the hall.
Adjective
- Marked by fullness; abundant, copious.
The fulsome thanks of the war-torn nation lifted our weary spirits.
Synonyms of Fulsome
Fulsome synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Fulsome
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Fulsome in a Sentence
The fulsome thanks of the war-torn nation lifted our weary spirits.
Her fulsome timbre resonated throughout the hall.
Word Forms & Grammar
fulsome (comparative fulsomer or more fulsome, superlative fulsomest or most fulsome)
Words That Rhyme With Fulsome
Origin of Fulsome
Origin 1: From Middle English fulsom, equivalent to full + -some. The meaning has evolved from an original positive connotation "abundant" to a neutral "plump" to a negative "overfed". In modern usage, it can take on any of these inflections. See usage note.
Origin 2: The negative sense "offensive, gross; disgusting, sickening" developed secondarily after the 13th century and was influenced by Middle English foul (“foul”).[1] In the 18th century, the word was sometimes even spelled foulsome.[2]
How to Pronounce Fulsome
You say fulsome as //ˈfʊlsəm//. It has 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Fulsome
What part of speech is fulsome?
Fulsome is an adjective.
What is another word for fulsome?
Close synonyms of fulsome are unctuous, insincere and oleaginous. See the full list of fulsome synonyms and antonyms.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of fulsome?
The comparative form is fulsomer and the superlative form is fulsomest.