Luxuriant
adj.joyful, hopefulliterary
Meaning 1
Growing with exceptional thickness, vigor, and abundance.
Reach for it when describing healthy vegetation, hair, or similarly rich growth
Luxuriant ferns filled the shaded hollow after spring rain.
Choose between these
4- everyday
dense healthy growth deserves natural modern praise
not when Lush is less formal and can also imply rich sensory style.
- professional
large quantity is the supportable claim
not when Abundant is neutral and misses vigorous beauty.
- professional
an organism produces many offspring, flowers, or works
not when Prolific concerns output rather than luxuriant form.
- literary
healthy greenness rather than thickness is the image
not when Verdant does not guarantee abundant growth.
Meaning 2
Richly elaborate or abundant in sensory detail.
Reach for it when describing an ornate style, texture, or imaginative work
The composer's luxuriant harmonies remained clear in the small hall.
Choose between these
3- professional
many decorative details shape the style
not when Ornate can be rigid or overworked rather than richly flowing.
- formal
rich display and costly detail are central
not when Opulent implies wealth that artistic luxuriance may not.
- literary
full sensory pleasure and refinement are intended
not when Sumptuous is stronger and poorly suited to intellectual detail.
Said against
3- barren
- stunted
- austere
It naturally appears in
3- luxuriant growth
Luxuriant growth concealed the old garden wall.
- luxuriant hair
The portrait emphasizes the sitter's luxuriant hair.
- luxuriant style
A luxuriant style filled the tapestry with birds and vines.
Where this comes from
- merriam-webster, adjective sense 1 opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- merriam-webster, adjective sense 2 opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · 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.