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Synonym Chooser

How is the word fruitful distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of fruitful are fecund, fertile, and prolific. While all these words mean "producing or capable of producing offspring or fruit," fruitful adds to fertile and fecund the implication of desirable or useful results.

fruitful research

When is fecund a more appropriate choice than fruitful?

The words fecund and fruitful can be used in similar contexts, but fecund emphasizes abundance or rapidity in bearing fruit or offspring.

a fecund herd

In what contexts can fertile take the place of fruitful?

In some situations, the words fertile and fruitful are roughly equivalent. However, fertile implies the power to reproduce in kind or to assist in reproduction and growth; applied figuratively, it suggests readiness of invention and development.

fertile soil
a fertile imagination

When would prolific be a good substitute for fruitful?

The meanings of prolific and fruitful largely overlap; however, prolific stresses rapidity of spreading or multiplying by or as if by natural reproduction.

a prolific writer

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 fruitful According to Close, her first time hosting SNL was just as fruitful. Nicholas Rice, People.com, 26 Jan. 2025 In some cases, the AI won’t have anything fruitful to say on the topic at hand. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025 The process was fruitful, showing huge differences in performance among the six products. Darius Tahir | Kff Health News, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025 Kevin Wilson, head of distribution for MGM/Amazon Studios said the slow rollout is proving fruitful as a young cinephile audience is starting to find the film with informal polling heavy on 18 to 30 year olds. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for fruitful 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fruitful
Adjective
  • Ireland was fertile ground for Douglass’ passionate abolitionist message.
    Jay Mwamba, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025
  • And yet, such anti-vaccine justifications had found fertile ground in turn-of-the-century America among proponents of alternative healing who mistrusted mainstream medical expertise.
    Helen L. Murphey / Made by History, TIME, 29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • LaVine gives the Kings a 24-point-per-night scorer in the midst of one of his most efficient seasons.
    Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Feb. 2025
  • His efficient, confident performances against Oregon and Louisville (in the Sun Bowl) caused expectations for next season to soar.
    Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Barkley posted one of the most prolific seasons ever for a running back after signing a $37.75 million, three-year contract in March.
    Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
  • The artist behind the car was Pininfarina’s Leonardo Fioravanti, among the most prolific Italian car designers of his age, and whose signature is on Ferrari’s Daytona, 512, Testarossa, and so many other benchmark designs.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • There have been some reports that this year’s flu vaccine might be less effective than in previous years, which could explain the apparent high levels of sickness that are currently around.
    Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Its exceptional range and unparalleled accuracy allow for effective engagement of enemy outposts, battle zones, and rear areas.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • According to the 14th congressional district representative, she’s met wealthy people who are a lot more impressive than the world’s richest man.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
  • That's projector-like real estate in a screen that provides rich black levels, burstingly bright quantum dot colors, and impressive overall punch.
    Ryan Waniata, WIRED, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • It’s been a productive but rocky season for Fox and the Kings, the last of his eight with the franchise that drafted him fifth in 2017.
    Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
  • But Sherman, in his own column Saturday, sounded a more pessimistic tune, saying the Mets have their own internal projections showing that a lineup without Alonso, but with Soto included, will be at least as productive as the 2024 lineup that got New York into the postseason.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near fruitful

Cite this Entry

“Fruitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fruitful. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fruitful

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