replete

adjective

re·​plete ri-ˈplēt 

1

: fully or abundantly provided or filled

a book replete with … delicious details

—William Safire

2

a

: abundantly fed

b

: fat, stout

3

: complete

repleteness noun

Did you know?

It’s no coincidence that replete and complete are close in meaning. Both words come from the Latin verb plēre, meaning "to fill," and both indicate that something contains all that is wanted, needed, or possible. There are some subtle differences in usage, however. Complete applies when all that is needed is present ("a complete picture of the situation"), whereas replete is the synonym of choice when fullness is accompanied by a sense of satiety ("the buffet was replete with dishes from all over the world"). Etymology fans may be interested to know that the list of plēre descendants doesn't end with these two; English is in fact replete with them. Some other words supplied by this Latin verb include deplete, expletive, implement, and supply.

Synonyms

• blubbery
• chubby
• corpulent
• fat
• fleshy
• full
• gross
• lardy
• obese
• overweight
• plump
• podgy [chiefly British]
• portly
• pudgy
• roly-poly
• rotund
• round
• tubby

Choose the Right Synonym for replete

full, complete, plenary, replete mean containing all that is wanted or needed or possible.

full implies the presence or inclusion of everything that is wanted or required by something or that can be held, contained, or attained by it.

a full schedule

complete applies when all that is needed is present.

a complete picture of the situation

plenary adds to complete the implication of fullness without qualification.

given plenary power

replete implies being filled to the brim or to satiety.

replete with delightful details

Examples of replete in a Sentence

The book is replete with photographs.

The country's history is replete with stories of people who became successful by working hard.

Recent Examples on the Web

By Mathew Rodriguez December 9, 2024 People walking out of the movie theater after seeing Wicked are no doubt replete with questions. —Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 9 Dec. 2024

Many stories — from, for example, small media sites — are replete with the obligatory (and stale) ad hominem attacks on Musk. —Brooke Crothers, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024

Recent history is replete with elections which seemed more transformational at the time than a few years later, attributable more to the individual winner or circumstances than to a more basic change. —Carl Leubsdorf, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024

While the mirror is not on display, guests can stay at the Marilyn Monroe suite overlooking the pool, replete with vintage Eames furniture. —Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English replet, replete, repleet "filled (with), filled with food or drink, sated, having an excess of humors," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French replet "filled," borrowed from Latin replētus "full (of), fully endowed (with)," from past participle of replēre "to make full again, replenish, restore, fill up, sate," from re- re- + plēre "to fill" — more at full entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

replete

adjective

re·​plete ri-ˈplēt 

1

: fully or well provided or filled

a book replete with illustrations

2

: well fed

repleteness noun