lush 1 of 2

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as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously lush dandelions had turned the meadow into a sea of yellow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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lush

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lush distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

a lush green lawn

When would exuberant be a good substitute for lush?

The words exuberant and lush can be used in similar contexts, but exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

When is lavish a more appropriate choice than lush?

The meanings of lavish and lush largely overlap; however, lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

When is it sensible to use luxuriant instead of lush?

The words luxuriant and lush are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

a luxuriant beard

When could prodigal be used to replace lush?

In some situations, the words prodigal and lush are roughly equivalent. However, prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When can profuse be used instead of lush?

Although the words profuse and lush have much in common, 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 lush
Adjective
Over in the Ocean Journey building, visitors can encounter playful penguins, sand tiger sharks, lemurs, and butterflies floating through a lush tropical garden. Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 In his final book, Amazônia, Salgado with his signature style, captured the lives of Indigenous communities, their sustainable traditions, and the lush river landscapes of the Amazon Rainforest. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Noun
Bell's Brewery has big plans for 2023: 5 top takeaways WeldWerks opened in Greeley in 2015 and quickly became a cult favorite in a state lush with craft beer. Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2023 In West Long Beach, Ms. Hollins has lived and worked for the past 30 years out of her one-story ranch house, set on a property lush with trees, native plants and shrubbery. Eileen Guo, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for lush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lush
Adjective
  • Paired with the gray-ish green color palette, sparse decor, and dark atmospherics in the Institute itself, the bleak vibes may be enough to turn some viewers off for good, especially those horror purists who tune in hoping to be terrified rather than just bummed out.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 July 2025
  • Hibiscus plants add tropical flair to summer gardens with their large, showy flowers and glossy green foliage.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2025
Adjective
  • Crime in New York was rampant, and racial tensions were high.
    Robert Chiarito, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • The innovation has been rampant, with AI usage evolving from coding assistants led by GitHub Copilot to next-gen vibe coding tools like Cursor and Windsurf (all, coincidentally, built on top of Microsoft’s open source VSCode IDE).
    Jason Andersen, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Pick up some bright red tomatoes for a salad, homemade soap, vegetables for a delicious dinner or fresh bread straight from the oven at your local market.
    Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
  • Since the lawyers meet to try the city’s best restaurant, there are plenty of close-ups of their meals and everything looks delicious.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • The food industry has a lot riding on, and even more to gain from, adopting practices that help stabilize the climate and support thriving ecosystems.
    Mindy Lubber, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Whatever happens, Chicago needs a thriving and affordable ride-share sector — ride-share is part of our transit ecosystem.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Joined by four extremely sensual dancers, Starr powered through her hits, fully choreographed and vocally impressive.
    jsonline.com, jsonline.com, 4 July 2025
  • To preserve two years worth of wartime love letters that are frisky, sensual, imaginative and, above all, honest.
    Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • Winnipeg was fertile ground for Indigenous artists.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • Dense with tall, light-swallowing spruce trees and rooted in sodden, fertile ground, the Šumava Forest along the Czech-German border looks and feels like the setting for a Grimm Brothers fairytale: a place out of time, modern civilization and, seemingly, cellphone range.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Leonard was an alcoholic whose drinking began in high school.
    Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 13 July 2025
  • Pete’s brother, a former hockey player who misses his glory days, is an alcoholic who cares for the family’s large mink farm.
    Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 June 2025
Noun
  • But still, the agave spirit is crucial to this melange of booze.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 11 July 2025
  • The ice cream shops present customers with a wide variety of flavors to choose from that use ingredients including booze, local strawberries, and more.
    Alessia Sandala, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lush. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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