fulsome

[ fool-suhm, fuhl- ]

adjective

1. offensive to good taste, especially as being excessive; overdone or gross:

   fulsome praise that embarrassed her deeply; fulsome décor.

2. disgusting; sickening; repulsive:

   a table heaped with fulsome mounds of greasy foods.

3. excessively or insincerely lavish:

   fulsome admiration.

4. encompassing all aspects; comprehensive:

   a fulsome survey of the political situation in Central America.

5. abundant or copious.

fulsome

/ ˈfʊlsəm /

adjective

1. excessive or insincere, esp in an offensive or distasteful way

   fulsome compliments

2. not_standard.
   extremely complimentary
3. informal.
   full, rich or abundant

   a fulsome figure

   fulsome detail

   a fulsome flavour

4. archaic.
   disgusting; loathsome

Usage

The use of fulsome to mean extremely complimentary or full, rich or abundant is common in journalism, but should be avoided in other kinds of writing

Sensitive Note

In the 13th century when it was first used, fulsome meant simply “abundant or copious.” It later developed additional senses of “offensive, gross” and “disgusting, sickening,” probably by association with foul, and still later a sense of excessiveness: a fulsome disease; a fulsome meal, replete with too much of everything. For some centuries fulsome was used exclusively, or nearly so, with these unfavorable meanings. Today, both fulsome and fulsomely are also used in senses closer to the original one: The sparse language of the new Prayer Book contrasts with the fulsome language of Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer. Later they discussed the topic more fulsomely. These uses are often criticized on the grounds that fulsome must always retain its connotations of “excessive” or “offensive.” The common phrase fulsome praise is thus sometimes ambiguous in modern use.

Derived Forms

• ˈfulsomeness, noun
• ˈfulsomely, adverb

Other Words From

• fulsome·ly adverb
• fulsome·ness noun
• un·fulsome adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fulsome¹

First recorded in 1200–50, fulsome is from the Middle English word fulsom. See full ¹, -some ¹

Example Sentences

The former president had fulsome praise for Elon Musk and went out of his way to invite him to the stage.

From BBC

“The only way we can do that in a truly fulsome way is to have people on the show that reflect the country we live in.”

From Los Angeles Times

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was fulsome in his praise for the new recruit to his backroom team.

From BBC

Her voice, dark, fulsome and cutting, communicated Woolf’s intellectual depth and her personal demons; there was the insight and occlusion of a novelist at the height of her powers hiding her suicidal ideations from others.

From New York Times

The fulsome belly, the haunches and feet, rested firmly on the ground.

From Literature