Definition of copiousnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective copious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of copious are abundant, ample, and plentiful. While all these words mean "more than sufficient without being excessive," copious stresses largeness of supply rather than fullness or richness.

copious examples of bureaucratic waste

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

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

streams abundant with fish

When can ample be used instead of copious?

While in some cases nearly identical to copious, ample implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement.

ample food to last the winter

When is plentiful a more appropriate choice than copious?

The words plentiful and copious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 copious Artificial intelligence is being integrated for copious tasks including but not limited to data analytics, picking merchandise in warehouses, orchestrating last-mile delivery, planning fabric cutting, customer service and product recommendations and discovery. Sj Staff, Footwear News, 20 May 2026 Several sequences are candy-colored, and many are filled with copious amounts of actual brand-name candy. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026 Details of the trial The jury saw copious amounts of evidence, including surveillance video of Caneiro's car leaving his home and returning on the morning of the murders. Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 19 May 2026 With no air-con and copious heat-soak through the rear bulkhead (the glass panel behind your head gets almost too hot to touch), driving it hard also feels like a physical workout. Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for copious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copious
Adjective
  • Organized by color, the book is chockablock with toothsome images of fashion legends, first ladies, pop stars, and lavish projects by the world’s leading designers and architects.
    Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2026
  • The movie’s first scene, in which the band plays a wedding at a lavish country estate, highlights his problem.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • When farmers implemented regenerative techniques, the yield was more abundant, and the soil was full of microbial life.
    Special to The Denver Post, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
  • The highlight of your month arrives on June 9, when Venus and Jupiter align in your sign in one of the most abundant and feel-good transits of the year.
    Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • The study found California has some of the highest upward mobility in terms of income, meaning there’s ample opportunity for workers to move up a tax bracket or two thanks to the jobs offered in the state.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 27 May 2026
  • Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • Kids While the lobster is plentiful and the Champagne flows, the St Regis artfully avoids any pretension.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
  • Thankfully, your options for compatible batteries are plentiful.
    Cameron Faulkner, The Verge, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • Environmental stressors can include insufficient water, high temperatures, excessive moisture and/or nitrogen, severe pruning, or root damage.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 May 2026
  • O’Hara was an outsider brought in with a mandate to reform the police department after the 2020 killing of George Floyd, which led to federal and state investigative findings of excessive force and racist policing practices.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • Definitely don’t be overly profuse or attempt to be complicated in whatever your request is.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
  • The narratively profuse mystery game Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is like living in a Bikini Kill song followed by a Phoebe Bridgers ballad.
    Harold Goldberg, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Pick it up for $17 at Amazon, just in time for the summer weather to give you a bountiful harvest.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
  • Don't let a lack of sunshine stop you from enjoying a bountiful harvest of vegetables that grow in the shade.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2026
Adjective
  • Earnest and Anolik discuss Babitz’s captivating persona and the strange course of her life, from New York to Los Angeles and from riotous success to anonymity.
    Lili Anolik, The New York Review of Books, 27 May 2026
  • See the new photos from the riotous parody below.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 25 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Copious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copious. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on copious

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster