profusion

/pɹəˈfjuːʒən/ literary

Say it: pruh-FYOO-zhun

1. noun A very large, rich, or extravagant quantity of something; an abundance.
The meadow was covered with a profusion of wildflowers in every color imaginable.
2. noun The act of giving or spending something in a lavish or extravagant way.
His profusion with the inheritance left him penniless within a year.

📖 Seen in the wild

The garden was a riot of color, with a profusion of roses and lilies.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ profusion in a sentence

The new CEO arrived with a profusion of ideas for restructuring the company.
She was taken aback by his profusion of apologies, which seemed excessive for the minor mistake.
The novel was criticized for its profusion of subplots, which made the main story difficult to follow.
After the storm, repair crews had to deal with a profusion of downed power lines across the county.
The buffet table groaned under a profusion of desserts.
His early paintings are characterized by a wild profusion of color and texture.
The legal brief was dense with a profusion of citations and footnotes.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

abundance plethora cornucopia wealth surfeit glut superfluity copiousness

abundance · a more neutral and common term for a large quantity.

plethora · often implies an excessive amount, more than is necessary or welcome.

cornucopia · suggests a rich, varied, and bountiful supply, almost always of good things.

wealth · implies a great store of something valuable, not just money.

Opposites: scarcity, dearth, paucity, lack, shortage

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'profusion' flows directly from the Latin 'profusionem', meaning 'a pouring out'. It's built from 'pro-' (forth) and 'fundere' (to pour). This origin perfectly captures the modern sense of an overflowing, lavish supply of something, as if it has been poured out in great quantity.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

a profusion ofin profusiona rich profusiona wild profusiona confusing profusion

'Profusion' is a strong, somewhat formal word that suggests an almost overwhelming or overflowing quantity. It's more evocative than 'a lot' or 'abundance'. While often used positively for things like flowers or ideas, it can also describe an excess of something undesirable, like jargon or errors. Its power comes from its specific imagery of 'pouring forth', so use it when you want to emphasize a lavish, unrestrained supply.

Word family: profuse, profusely

💬 Quick answers

What does profusion mean?

Profusion means a very large, abundant, or overflowing quantity of something. It often implies a rich, lavish, or even excessive supply.

What is the difference between profusion and abundance?

While both mean a large quantity, 'profusion' is more intense and often suggests something is overflowing or growing lavishly, like 'a profusion of flowers'. 'Abundance' is a more neutral and common term for a plentiful supply.

Is profusion a positive or negative word?

It can be either, depending on the context. A 'profusion of compliments' is positive, but a 'profusion of errors' is negative. The word itself simply emphasizes the vast quantity.

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