fulsome

(fʊl'səm)
adj.

1. Offensively flattering or insincere. See synonyms at unctuous.
2. Offensive to the taste or sensibilities.
3. Usage Problem. Copious or abundant.

[Middle English fulsom, abundant, well-fed, arousing disgust : ful, full; see full¹ + -som, adj. suff.; see -some¹.]

fulsomely ful'some·ly adv.
fulsomeness ful'some·ness n.

USAGE NOTE   Fulsome is often used to mean "offensively flattering or insincere." But the word is also used, particularly in the expression fulsome praise, to mean simply "abundant," without any implication of excess or insincerity. This usage is etymologically justified but may invite misunderstandings in contexts in which a deprecatory interpretation could be made. The sentence I offer you my most fulsome apologies may raise an eyebrow, where the use of an adjective like full or abundant would leave no room for doubt as to the sincerity of the speaker's intentions.

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1. The first meaning of fulsome was 'copious, abundant', but it had lost this along with other meanings by the 16th century and acquired an unfavourable sense 'excessive, cloying', especially with reference to praise or flattery. This meaning remained the dominant one until the second half of the 20th century, when fulsome began to be used in favourable meanings, so that fulsome praise meant high or lavish praise rather than excessive or nauseating praise. This new use, more common in American English but increasingly found in British English too, should be avoided, because the adverse meaning is still much in use and there is a danger of unfortunate misunderstanding. Examples of erroneous and correct uses follow:

☒ Critics, who insist the Pope has not gone far enough in apologising, will be expecting him to express fulsome remorse—Irish News, 2006

I Walks surefootedly through the minefield that separates fulsome idolatry from condescending anecdotal chit-chat—Times Literary Supplement, 1977.

Useful alternatives to fulsome in the erroneous 'favourable' sense include lavish, generous, enthusiastic, effusive, exuberant, copious, glowing, and extravagant.

2. Fulsome is also occasionally used to mean 'full-figured', with reference to a woman's figure, by fashion writers who analyse the word as consisting of full + -some as in handsome, wholesome, etc.:

The craze for the fulsome figure...may come to an end sometime in the next couple of decades, say those in the know—Sunday Times, 1998.

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adjective

Affectedly and self-servingly earnest: oily, oleaginous, sleek, smarmy, unctuous. See attitude/good attitude/bad attitude/neutral attitude, honest/dishonest.

adj

Definition: sickening, gross; excessive (behavior)
Antonyms: reasonable, sincere

1) copious; generous in amount
2) aesthetically, morally or generally offensive
3) exceeding the bounds of good taste: overdone
4) excessively complimentary or flattering: effusive

For a list of words related to fulsome, see:

• Smells - fulsome: (adj) sickening or disgusting to the senses
• Bad, False, Evil, Insincere, or Dishonest

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See words rhyming with "fulsome."

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - overdreven, vammel, smagløs

Nederlands (Dutch)
overdreven, overvloedig, groot, goed ontwikkeld, aanstootgevend

Français (French)
adj. - excessif

Deutsch (German)
adj. - übertrieben

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - υπερβολικός

Italiano (Italian)
esagerato, offensivo

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - repulsivo (exagerado em bajulações)

Русский (Russian)
чрезмерный

Español (Spanish)
adj. - excesivo, exagerado, obsequioso

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - överdriven, riklig, äcklig

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
过度的, 令人生厌的, 过分的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 過度的, 令人生厭的, 過分的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 불쾌한, 거친, 꺼림칙한

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 度を過ぎた, 鼻につく, あくどい, しつこい

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) مثير للاشمئزاز , مقيت‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮מבחיל, מוגזם, מחניף עד כדי בחילה, משביע מדי, גדוש‬

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