effusive
adjective
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Effusive History Is Overflowing
We've used effusive in English to describe excessive outpourings since the 17th century. In the 1800s, geologists adopted the specific sense related to flowing lava—or to hardened rock formed from flowing lava. Effusive can be traced, via the Medieval Latin adjective effūsīvus ("generating profusely, lavish"), to the Latin verb effundere ("to pour out"), which itself comes from fundere ("to pour") plus a modification of the prefix ex- ("out"). Our verb effuse has the same Latin ancestors. A person effuses when speaking effusively. Liquids can effuse as well, as in "water effusing from a pipe."
Synonyms
Examples of effusive in a Sentence
James McNicholas, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
Kristen Bell winning alongside Brody and Nobody Wants This would make for a Comedy sweep that feels a bit too effusive, so maybe the voters just run it back with Jean Smart.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
This change between effusive and explosive activity of Kīlauea is quite unique.
—David Bressan, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
All were enthusiastic about him, giving him high marks and effusive compliments in their interview notes.
—Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for effusive 
Cite this Entry
“Effusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/effusive. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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effusive
adjective
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