plentiful

[plen-ti-fuhl]

adjective

1. existing in great plenty.

   Coal was plentiful, and therefore cheap, in that region.

   Antonyms: scanty, sparse

2. yielding abundantly.

   a plentiful source of inspiration.

   Synonyms: luxuriant, productive, bounteous, fruitful
   Antonyms: sterile, fruitless, barren

plentiful

/ ˈplɛntɪfʊl /

adjective

1. ample; abundant

2. having or yielding an abundance

   a plentiful year

Other Word Forms

• plentifully adverb
• plentifulness noun
• overplentiful adjective
• overplentifully adverb
• overplentifulness noun
• quasi-plentiful adjective
• quasi-plentifully adverb
• unplentiful adjective
• unplentifully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of plentiful¹

A late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; plenty, -ful

Synonym Study

Plentiful, ample, abundant, bountiful describe a more than adequate supply of something. Plentiful suggests an over-adequate quantity: a plentiful supply. Ample suggests a more than adequate quality as well: to give ample praise. Abundant implies a greater degree of plenty, and bountiful a still more ample quality as well: an abundant, even a bountiful, harvest.

Example Sentences

Dictatorships have been all too plentiful in that period, and most people think of Hitler’s Germany or Stalin’s Russia as the archetypes.

From Salon

Sand dabs and halibut, still edible and plentiful there, were held in a net slung under the hull and served moments later.

From Los Angeles Times

In which case, Wales has devolution, the number of Welsh speakers is at least stable, and cultural institutions are plentiful.

From BBC

In 2023, deep snow in the Sierra Nevada brought plentiful runoff, raising the lake about 5 feet.

From Los Angeles Times

Goma is the capital of North Kivu Province, which is rich in covetable minerals - such as those that power mobile phones - and plentiful in rebel and militia groups.

From BBC

Related Words

• ample 
• bountiful 
• fertile 
• generous 
• productive 
• prolific 
• sufficient 
• unlimited