Well-read · Often misused · Arguing & persuading
Fulsome: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Fulsome adjective. Flattering or effusive to the point of seeming insincere.
How to say it
FUUL-sum/ˈfʊls(ə)m/
2 syllables, stressed on the first (FUUL).
Fulsome in a sentence
His fulsome praise of the boss made the rest of us cringe.
She sent a fulsome apology that somehow made things worse.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- effusive
- gushing
- unctuous
- sycophantic
Opposite:
- restrained
- measured
Careful
Fulsome has long carried a hint of too much, so 'a fulsome tribute' can be a backhanded one. Its use for simply generous or wholehearted is now common and accepted, but may read as a dig.
Where fulsome comes from
From full and -some; it first meant plentiful, then cloying.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
She sent a _____ apology that somehow made things worse.
- ironic
- fulsome
- nauseous
Show the answer
fulsome: She sent a fulsome apology that somehow made things worse.