effusive

USAGE SUMMARY

'effusive' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective meaning 'displaying or expressing enthusiasm and warm approval'. An example sentence could be: The young girl was effusive in her praise of the teacher's work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Writing in this month's Hollywood Reporter, Roth was effusive about how Midnight Madness changed his life.

The Guardian - Film

Kathleen Sebelius, the health and human services secretary, sought to defuse anger of the launch of the website with the most effusive apology yet from the administration, describing the problems that have beset the system as "miserably frustrating".

The Guardian

By now, any apprehensions have been overcome, and our responses are growing more effusive.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Near the beginning of "God is Not Great" he describes his rebellion when confronted with an effusive divinity teacher at school who pointed to the beauty of hedgerows in the English countryside as evidence of His creation.

The Economist

Since these "Royal Caribbean Champions" did not necessarily declare their incentivised status alongside their effusive commentary, other cruise-site users have been huffing and puffing about the absence of objectivity.

The Economist

Zev Yaroslavsky, an effusive Los Angeles county supervisor, thundered that the agreement "stinks" and that it would "hurt a lot of people that don't deserve to be hurt".The anger at the local level may be understandable, but the pressure on lawmakers in Sacramento to agree on a budget had been cranking up in recent weeks, and the state was running out of options for short-term funding.

The Economist

Inevitably, however, by opening the door (if only a crack), America's own accounting regime would be in jeopardy.But even the EU's embrace of IFRS has been less than effusive.

The Economist

Around the same time, Vladimir Socor, an analyst at the Jamestown Foundation in Washington, said the country had "changed almost beyond recognition" in recent years.Some foreign leaders are less effusive, and President Mikheil Saakashvili, it appears, is partly to blame.

The Economist

He rushed to Morocco, a traditional rival, for the funeral of King Hassan, and upstaged all the other dignitaries present during an effusive encounter with Israel's prime minister, Ehud Barak.

The Economist

Other state senators, assemblymen and US representatives were rather less effusive.

The Economist

His more effusive colleague had come over for the day to listen.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "effusive" to describe emotions or expressions that are genuinely heartfelt and overflowing, rather than superficially exaggerated.

Common error

Avoid using "effusive" in contexts that require neutrality or objectivity. Its strong emotional connotation can undermine credibility in formal or professional writing.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "effusive" primarily functions to describe the nature of expressions or emotions, highlighting their unrestrained and overflowing quality. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "effusive" is a versatile adjective used to describe unrestrained and overflowing expressions of emotion. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It's prevalent in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Formal & Business contexts. While a powerful descriptor, it's important to avoid overusing it in neutral contexts to maintain credibility. Consider alternatives like "enthusiastic" or "exuberant" for slightly different nuances. Be sure to employ it when you want to emphasize the genuine, heartfelt nature of an expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enthusiastic

Conveys strong excitement and eagerness, though not necessarily to an excessive degree.

exuberant

Signifies overflowing joy and energy, often outwardly expressed.

ebullient

Indicates high spirits and enthusiasm, often bubbling over.

gushy

Implies excessive sentimentality or flattery, often to an insincere degree.

gushing

Similar to "gushy" but can also describe a flow of liquid, as well as emotion, often suggesting insincerity.

unrestrained

Indicates a lack of control over emotions or expressions, which can be positive or negative.

lavish

Implies generous and abundant praise or displays of affection.

extravagant

Suggests an excessive display of emotion or praise, sometimes disproportionate to the situation.

demonstrative

Refers to openly expressing emotions, often through physical affection.

over-the-top

Describes behavior that is excessively dramatic or exaggerated.

FAQs

How can I use "effusive" in a sentence?

You can use "effusive" to describe someone's enthusiastic and unrestrained expression of emotion, as in "She was "effusive" in her praise of the new play".

What are some synonyms for "effusive"?

Alternatives to "effusive" include "enthusiastic", "exuberant", and "gushing". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "effusive" in writing?

Use "effusive" when you want to emphasize the unrestrained and heartfelt nature of an expression. It's suitable when describing genuine enthusiasm or overflowing emotion.

What is the difference between "effusive" and "enthusiastic"?

"Enthusiastic" describes strong excitement and interest, while "effusive" implies an even more unrestrained and demonstrative expression of those feelings. "Effusive" suggests a greater outpouring of emotion.