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Synonym Chooser

How is the word fruitful distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of fruitful are fecund, fertile, and prolific. While all these words mean "producing or capable of producing offspring or fruit," fruitful adds to fertile and fecund the implication of desirable or useful results.

fruitful research

When is fecund a more appropriate choice than fruitful?

The words fecund and fruitful can be used in similar contexts, but fecund emphasizes abundance or rapidity in bearing fruit or offspring.

a fecund herd

In what contexts can fertile take the place of fruitful?

In some situations, the words fertile and fruitful are roughly equivalent. However, fertile implies the power to reproduce in kind or to assist in reproduction and growth; applied figuratively, it suggests readiness of invention and development.

fertile soil
a fertile imagination

When would prolific be a good substitute for fruitful?

The meanings of prolific and fruitful largely overlap; however, prolific stresses rapidity of spreading or multiplying by or as if by natural reproduction.

a prolific writer

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fruitful If the media rights negotiations aren’t fruitful enough, the conference probably won’t bother making another run at the American schools. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025 God said ’be fruitful and multiply,’ and basically build his army!!! Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025 Dunst’s rare forays into television have been equally fruitful. EW.com, 28 Jan. 2025 While the partnership may have been fruitful, the commercial end wasn’t always easy. Samantha Conti, WWD, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for fruitful 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fruitful
Adjective
  • Carver, a Black agricultural scientist and inventor, was extremely concerned with keeping soil and its nutrients rich and fertile.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2025
  • For Kentridge, attachment to a great idea can lead to entrapment, closing your mind to other, unthought-of fertile ideas.
    Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Future Perfect Explore the big, complicated problems the world faces and the most efficient ways to solve them.
    Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Seniors Taylor Jones and Rori Harmon are excellent on the defensive end, and junior Kyla Oldacre is a quick, efficient bucket off the bench.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Yes, but: Kaye was the group's bass guitarist who went on to have the most prolific career of any member, yet was somehow left out.
    Troy Smith, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Yuki Aditya was part of the Tiger Competition’s jury, while prolific filmmaker Kamila Andini — behind Yuni, Before, Now & Then and Netflix tentpole series Cigarette Girl — brought her latest project, Four Seasons in Java, to IFFR’s Cinemart.
    Sara Merican, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Expert instructors will teach you how to get started, practical uses, tips for effective prompt-writing, and mistakes to avoid.
    Renée Onque, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2025
  • That, right there, is an example of effective marketing.
    Paul McClure February 16, New Atlas, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In a slice of rich irony, OpenAI itself began to whine a couple of weeks ago when a Chinese rival, DeepSeek, garnered sudden attention.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 2025
  • This show is effectively an anthology drama, with each new edition following a different set of rich tourists and well-meaning service industry employees at high-end international resorts.
    Noel Murray, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • For decades in the United States, scientists and government officials have coexisted in a mostly peaceable and productive symbiosis.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Manner said people who are concerned about the U.S. position on Canada should contact their political representatives and express their thoughts, but that social media dooming may be less productive.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near fruitful

Cite this Entry

“Fruitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fruitful. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fruitful

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