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

Yet, Democrat Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and Secretary of State Jena Griswold were effusive in their praise of the shocking sentence given by Mesa County District Judge Matthew Barrett. —Mike Davis, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025

Extra bases: For all that Sheets has done lately and did on Sunday, manager Mike Shildt was most effusive in his praise for Sheets beating out a potential double play grounder in his final at-bat, keeping the inning alive. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025

Burgum was effusive in his praise of the oil and gas industry during remarks delivered at CERAWeek by S&P Global conference. —Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2025

Her skill at playing strange personalities, and her effusive personal allure, risks trapping her in a pixie jar. —Julia Whelan Emma Kehlbeck Joel Thibodeau, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025

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

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