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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ample differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ample are abundant, copious, and plentiful. While all these words mean "more than sufficient without being excessive," ample implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement.

ample food to last the winter

How do abundant and plentiful relate to one another, in the sense of ample?

Abundant suggests an even greater or richer supply than does plentiful.

streams abundant with fish

When would copious be a good substitute for ample?

The meanings of copious and ample largely overlap; however, copious stresses largeness of supply rather than fullness or richness.

copious examples of bureaucratic waste

When is it sensible to use plentiful instead of ample?

In some situations, the words plentiful and ample are roughly equivalent. However, plentiful implies a great or rich supply.

peaches are plentiful this summer

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 ample This not only sets a new video specification benchmark for 360° cameras but also provides ample room for post-cropping and creative editing with its higher resolution. New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025 Although police recovered an ample sample from the snap on the sheath, Kohberger's DNA wasn't in the government's Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS, because he hadn't been implicated in any prior crimes. Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025 Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025 When Cena announced that 2025 would be his final year wrestling for WWE, there was ample speculation that his farewell match would take place in Boston this December. Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ample
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ample
Adjective
  • The main residence begins on the second floor with an 80-foot-long great room, the spacious setting for all those Holbrook family holidays and fundraisers.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The 250 guest rooms range in category from small Crash Pad and Cosy to spacious Heritage rooms with canopy beds.
    Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Plumier told IndyStar that bullfrogs and green frogs are so plentiful and quick to breed that frog hunting hasn’t proven harmful to their populations in Indiana.
    Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2025
  • While the water-ice leftovers may be more plentiful, nitrogen ice shines more brightly.
    Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • China today accounts for seven of the world’s largest indoor ski resorts – only SnowWorld Landgraaf in the Netherlands, Alpincenter Hamburg-Wittenberg in Germany and Ski Dubai in the UAE made the global top 10 from outside of China, according to the report.
    Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • According to Michigan's Department of Natural Resources, the Pigeon River State Forest is the largest swath of contiguous undeveloped land in the state's Lower Peninsula.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Or, head over to Dutchman’s Seafood, aka The Dutchie, for generous filets of local sole and Skuna Bay salmon with views of Morro Rock.
    Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Curved walls, brass accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows frame a generous living space—complete with a dining table that arcs like a ship’s keel and a cocktail-ready bar that glows at night.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Fortunately, Amazon just dropped new fall fashion items that are comfy and packable, including wide-leg jeans for travel, cardigan sweaters, and more.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Developed by AeroVironment, the 20kW LOCUST Laser Weapon System (LWS) identifies, tracks, and engages a wide variety of targets with hard-kill high energy laser.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ample.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ample. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

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