Search results
- Excessively flattering or insincere: When 'fulsome' is used to describe praise or compliments that are excessive, exaggerated, or insincere, it indeed carries a negative connotation. In this context, 'fulsome' suggests that the praise is overdone and may not be entirely genuine.
www.broadlearners.com/t/is-fulsome-a-negative-word/2537
The word has both positive and negative meanings, so context is key. Fulsome is a troublesome word. And it's also a word that represents the rare case in which dictionaries have made the word’s meaning more confusing rather than more clear.
Two of the traditional senses of fulsome are (1) offensively, excessively flattering, and (2) excessive in a distasteful way. In both these senses, the adjective is usually negative. A fulsome piece of music, for instance, might be one that is overloud and too busy-sounding.
Sep 21, 2024 · When 'fulsome' is used in the sense of excessive flattery or insincerity, it carries a negative connotation. For example: The new employee's fulsome praise of the boss seemed insincere and over-the-top.
- Literally Meaningless?
- Full of Fulsome
- Unraveling The Meaning of Raveling
- Perusing A New Janus Word
- A Plethora of Piñatas
In contrast to figuratively, the adverb literally means "in a literal or strict sense—word for word." But many speakers have a habit of using the word quite unliterally as an intensifier. Take this example from a speech given by former Vice President Joe Biden: Although most dictionaries recognize the contrary uses of the word, many usage authoriti...
If your boss showers you with "fulsome praise," don't presume that a promotion is in the works. Understood in its traditional sense of "offensively flattering or insincere," fulsome has decidedly negative connotations. But in recent years, fulsomehas picked up the more complimentary meaning of "full," "generous," or "abundant." So is one definition...
If the verb unravel means to unknot, unscramble, or untangle, it's only logical to assume that ravelmust mean the opposite—to tangle or complicate. Right? Well, yes and no. You see, ravel is both an antonym and a synonym for unravel. Derived from the Dutch word for "a loose thread," ravel can mean either to tangle or untangle, to complicate or clar...
Another Janus word is the verb peruse. Since the Middle Ages, peruse has meant to read or examine, usually with great care: perusinga document means studying it carefully. Then a funny thing happened. Some people starting using peruse as a synonym for "skim" or "scan" or "read quickly"—the opposite of its traditional meaning. Most editors still rej...
In this scene from the 1986 film ¡Three Amigos!,the villainous character El Guapo is talking with Jefe, his right-hand man: Regardless of his motive, El Guapo asks a fair question: just what is a plethora? As it turns out, this Greek and Latin hand-me-down is an example of a word that has undergone amelioration—that is, an upgrade in meaning from a...
- Richard Nordquist
Master the word "FULSOME" in English: definitions, translations, synonyms, pronunciations, examples, and grammar insights - all in one complete resource.
fulsome. (fʊlsəm ) adjective. If you describe expressions of praise, apology, or gratitude as fulsome, you disapprove of them because they are exaggerated and elaborate, so that they sound insincere. [disapproval] Newspapers have been fulsome in their praise of the former president.
People also ask
Is fulsome a negative word?
What is the meaning of the word 'fulsome'?
Why is fulsome a Troublesome Word?
Is fullsome a word?
What is the meaning of 'fulsome praise'?
Why do you disapprove of a fulsome expression?
Fulsome. Many people take fulsome to mean "abundant" or "lavish." But be wary of writing the likes of He received a fulsome tribute or Please accept my fulsome apology. The word actually means something darker: "excessive," "fawning," even "disgusting."