lavish
/ˈlavɪʃ
/adjective
1Sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious: a lavish banquet...
- The directors' lavish lifestyles and sumptuous houses on the outskirts of Sydney raised the heckles of the Australian public.
- Only in sports do we generally find plush, sumptuous, lavish condominium accommodations.
- Ngaanyatjarra is an especially rich and lavish language, both in its grades of meaning and its structure and its sound.
Synonyms
sumptuous, luxurious, luxuriant, lush, gorgeous, costly, opulent, grand, elaborate, splendid, rich, regal, ornate, expensive;
pretentious, showy, fancy
informal posh
1.1(Of a person) very generous or extravagant: he was lavish with his hospitality...
- He was lavish with her, but not like the movie would have you believe.
- Sometimes they cannot afford much, and in times of crisis, even when they are lavish it does not feel like enough.
- There was one exception to his lavish generosity.
Synonyms
generous, liberal, bountiful, open-handed, unstinting, unsparing, ungrudging, free, munificent, handsome;
extravagant, prodigal, fulsome
informal over the top
1.2Spent or given in profusion: lavish praise...
- The lavish praise is only possible because the book note is riddled with factual errors and misleading innuendo from start to finish.
- He paid lavish praise to the girls for their wonderful liturgy.
- Witness their lavish praise for the ‘nice and friendly’ treatment they got on a return visit for a check-up.
Synonyms
abundant, copious, ample, superabundant, plentiful, profuse, liberal, prolific, generous
literary plenteous
verb [with object] (lavish something on)
1Bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities on: the media couldn’t lavish enough praise on the film...
- Over the next three meals, she had steadily turned up the heat, and all he ever did was lavish compliments on the quality and quantity of the food.
- They have spent years lavishing their love on scores of disadvantaged and special needs children.
- But nobody can fault him for not lavishing enough hyperbole on his creation.
Synonyms
give freely, spend, expend, heap, shower, pour, deluge, give generously, give unstintingly, bestow freely
informal blow
1.1 (lavish someone with) Give someone generous amounts of: he was lavished with gifts...
- Nicky works in the evening as an insurance claims handler - she admits that she lavishes Lewis with too much attention during the day.
- If the universe hasn't lavished you with extravagance lately, use this week's Mercurian energy to add some major extensions to your wish list.
- He has been suggested for the Nobel Peace Prize, is supported by more than 80 percent of the French public, and even his enemies are lavishing him with praise.
Derivatives
lavishness
/ noun ...- Oscars goody-bags are renowned for their lavishness - with up to £60,000 of gifts for nominees and presenters earlier this year.
- Next day, the show opens, with many speeches and compliments, and a dinner of faintly embarrassing lavishness.
- The effort put in by everyone involved, the scope and the lavishness of the production are evident and can be mistaken for greatness.
Origin
Late Middle English (as a noun denoting profusion): from Old French lavasse 'deluge of rain', from laver 'to wash', from Latin lavare.