lavish

[ lav-ish ]

adjective

1. expended, bestowed, or occurring in profusion:

   lavish spending.

   Synonyms: wild, unrestrained, wasteful, unreasonable, thriftless, intemperate, improvident, immoderate, extravagant, excessive

   Antonyms: meager, sparing

2. using or giving in great amounts; prodigal (often followed by of ):

   lavish of his time;

   lavish of affection.

   Synonyms: unsparing, openhanded, munificent, liberal, free, effusive, bountiful, generous

   Antonyms: tight-fisted, tight, stingy, parsimonious, miserly, cheap

verb (used with object)

1. to expend or give in great amounts or without limit:

   to lavish gifts on a person.

   Synonyms: dissipate, squander, waste, shower, heap

   Antonyms: withhold, stint, begrudge

lavish

/ ˈlævɪʃ /

adjective

1. prolific, abundant, or profuse
2. generous; unstinting; liberal
3. extravagant; prodigal; wasteful

   lavish expenditure

verb

1. tr to give, expend, or apply abundantly, generously, or in profusion

Derived Forms

• ˈlavisher, noun
• ˈlavishment, noun
• ˈlavishly, adverb
• ˈlavishness, noun

Other Words From

• lav·ish·er noun
• lav·ish·ly adverb
• lav·ish·ness noun
• o·ver·lav·ish adjective
• o·ver·lav·ish·ness noun
• un·lav·ish adjective
• un·lav·ished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lavish¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English lavas “profusion” (noun), “profuse” (adjective), from Middle French lavasse, lavache “downpour of rain,” derivative of laver “to wash,” from Latin lavāre

Word History and Origins

Origin of lavish¹

C15: adj use of lavas profusion, from Old French lavasse torrent, from Latin lavāre to wash

Synonym Study

Lavish, prodigal, profuse refer to that which exists in abundance and is poured out copiously. Lavish suggests (sometimes excessive) generosity and openhandedness: lavish hospitality; much too lavish. Prodigal suggests wastefulness, improvidence, and reckless impatience of restraint: a prodigal extravagance. Profuse emphasizes abundance, but may suggest overemotionalism, exaggeration, or the like: profuse thanks, compliments, apologies.

Example Sentences

In exchange for lavishing billions of dollars upon MLB teams over the last couple of decades, local television providers demanded exclusivity.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m grateful to East West Players not only for the enormous care lavished on the staging, but also for the boldness of its approach.

From Los Angeles Times

The vice-president, who himself has been convicted of corruption in France and has had lavish assets seized in various countries, wants to be seen as the man cracking down on graft and wrong-doing at home.

From BBC

He acknowledged that he had enjoyed a lavish lifestyle afforded by his crimes.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Sutherland stood down from his role at the watchdog last year within hours of a separate Audit Scotland report which detailed lavish spending at the public body.

From BBC

Related Words

• bountiful
• effusive
• excessive
• extravagant
• exuberant
• generous
• gorgeous
• grand
• lush
• luxurious
• opulent
• plush
• posh
• profligate
• ritzy
• sumptuous
• swanky
• wasteful