effusive

adjective

ef·​fu·​sive i-ˈfyü-siv 

e-,

-ziv

1

: marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm

effusive praise

2

archaic : pouring freely

3

: characterized or formed by a nonexplosive outpouring of lava

effusive rocks

effusively adverb

effusiveness noun

Did you know?

Effusive History Is Overflowing

We've used effusive in English to describe excessive outpourings since the 17th century. In the 1800s, geologists adopted the specific sense related to flowing lava—or to hardened rock formed from flowing lava. Effusive can be traced, via the Medieval Latin adjective effūsīvus ("generating profusely, lavish"), to the Latin verb effundere ("to pour out"), which itself comes from fundere ("to pour") plus a modification of the prefix ex- ("out"). Our verb effuse has the same Latin ancestors. A person effuses when speaking effusively. Liquids can effuse as well, as in "water effusing from a pipe."

Synonyms

• demonstrative
• emotional
• touchy-feely
• uninhibited
• unreserved
• unrestrained

Examples of effusive in a Sentence

They offered effusive thanks for our help.

often effusive no matter what the occasion, they are even more so at weddings and funerals

Recent Examples on the Web

The committee’s Republican majority was effusive in their praise of Burgum, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who is considered a moderate within the caucus but has been a sharp critic of the Biden administration on energy policy. —Zack Budryk, The Hill, 16 Jan. 2025

The following year, Embiid and Butler were effusive about each other after the Heat advanced past the Sixers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2025

Economists owe the world and their broken profession an effusive apology for believing so deeply in what’s so blatantly incorrect. —John Tamny, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

But Rosso and Galliano took pains to characterize their parting as beyond amicable, expressing effusive thanks to each other in exclusive interviews conducted via email. —Miles Socha, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin effūsīvus "generating profusely, lavish," from Latin effūsus (past participle of effundere "to pour out, discharge, expend") + -īvus -ive — more at effuse entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1687, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

effusive

adjective

ef·​fu·​sive i-ˈfyü-siv 

e-,

-ziv

: expressing or showing much emotion

effusive thanks for their anniversary present

effusively adverb

effusiveness noun