fulsome Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech
    buttery; unctuous; soapy; oleaginous; smarmy; oily.
    • buttery praise
    • gave him a fulsome introduction
    • an oily sycophantic press agent
    • oleaginous hypocrisy
    • smarmy self-importance
    • the unctuous Uriah Heep
    • soapy compliments

WordNet

Ful"some adjective
Etymology
Full, a. + -some.
Definitions
  1. Full; abundant; plenteous; not shriveled. Obs.
    His lean, pale, hoar, and withered corpse grew fulsome, fair, and fresh. Golding.
  2. Offending or disgusting by overfullness, excess, or grossness; cloying; gross; nauseous; esp., offensive from excess of praise; as, fulsome flattery.
    And lest the fulsome artifice should fail Themselves will hide its coarseness with a veil. Cowper.
  3. Lustful; wanton; obscene; also, tending to obscenity. Obs. "Fulsome ewes." Shak. -- Ful"some*ly, adv. -- Ful"some*ness, n. Dryden.

Webster 1913