Lavish
adj.kind, joyfulwarm
What it means
Given or displayed in strikingly abundant measure.
Reach for it when describing praise, care, decoration, or spending that is notably generous
Volunteers prepared a lavish welcome for families returning after the storm.
Choose between these
7- warm
openhanded giving is the positive point
not when Generous does not suggest the extraordinary abundance carried by lavish.
- professional
careful detail and complexity deserve emphasis
not when Elaborate does not necessarily mean abundant or costly.
- professional
profuse
something is supplied or expressed in very large quantity
not when Profuse is clinical or neutral where lavish conveys splendor.
- formal
quantity is plentiful without implying expense
not when Abundant says little about elegance, intention, or generosity.
- formal
extravagant
the amount deliberately exceeds ordinary limits
not when Extravagant often criticizes waste, while lavish can be warmly approving.
- literary
rich materials and visible luxury define the setting
not when Opulent sounds excessive when the abundance is affection or praise.
- literary
food or surroundings are richly pleasurable
not when Sumptuous is poorly suited to attention, compliments, or non-sensory care.
Said against
3- meager
- sparse
- restrained
It naturally appears in
3- lavish praise
The director offered lavish praise after the cast's final rehearsal.
- lavish attention
The conservators gave lavish attention to each fragile panel.
- lavish reception
A lavish reception celebrated the clinic's hundredth anniversary.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- merriam-webster, adjective sense 1 opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.