Added 10 October 2026
fulsome
/ˈfʊlsəm/ adjective
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about fulsome at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech.
buttery praise
Origin
From Middle English fulsom, equivalent to full + -some. The meaning has evolved from an original positive connotation "abundant" to a neutral "plump" to a negative "overfed". In modern usage, it can take on any of these inflections. See usage note. The negative sense "offensive, gross; disgusting, sickening" developed secondarily after the 13th century and was influenced by Middle English foul (“foul”). In the 18th century, the word was sometimes even spelled foulsome.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)