profuse

[ pruh-fyoos, proh‐ ]

adjective

1. spending or giving freely and in large amount, often to excess; extravagant (often followed by in ):

   profuse praise.

   Antonyms: thrifty

2. made or done freely and abundantly:

   profuse apologies.

3. abundant; in great amount.

profuse

/ prəˈfjuːs /

adjective

1. plentiful, copious, or abundant

   profuse compliments

2. often foll by in free or generous in the giving (of)

   profuse in thanks

Derived Forms

• proˈfusely, adverb
• proˈfuseness, noun

Other Words From

• pro·fuse·ly adverb
• pro·fuse·ness noun
• un·pro·fuse adjective
• un·pro·fuse·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of profuse¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin profūsus, past participle of profundere “to pour out or forth”; pro- ¹, fuse ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of profuse¹

C15: from Latin profundere to pour lavishly

Synonym Study

See lavish. See ample.

Example Sentences

We are deep in darkness, before a four-year storm that, according to those Trump has already appointed to his staff, will be replete with violence against immigrants, overwhelming tariffs, profuse and criminal lies, the further fracturing of our country, a desecration of the Constitution and many other forms of villainy — all of which will be conveniently blamed on Joe Biden and the Democrats in an unending stream of calumnious statements backed up by Elon Musk on his de facto state media operation.

From Salon

Despite the costuming director’s profuse apologies, I found myself crying in front of the mirror in the women’s dressing room — not because I felt misaligned, but because I felt so aligned with my mind and body playing a male character that I couldn’t help but be awestruck by that groundedness.

From Los Angeles Times

Dodgers officials, however, have been profuse in their praise of Betts since the start of the season.

From Los Angeles Times

South Africa is Africa’s most advanced country but has struggled to solve a profuse inequality that has kept millions in poverty three decades after the segregation of apartheid ended.

From Seattle Times

Despite profuse statements of support for Jews and Israel, Christian Zionist philosemitism coexists with conspiratorial antisemitism and with a stated end-times goal to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, after which Jews must convert to Christianity or be slaughtered.

From Salon