Word that means luxurious

The adjective luxurious describes something that is of very high quality or expensive taste, like your luxurious living room filled with the softest rugs and gorgeous furniture hand-crafted in Italy.

In the 14th century, luxurious didn’t mean what it does today; it meant «lascivious, lecherous, unchaste.» What happened? The invention of bling for one thing, and the rise of a culture that celebrates material pleasures. Today, luxurious translates as exclusive, comfortable, expensive and superior in quality, like a luxurious home featured in a magazine about rich people and their favorite things.

Definitions of luxurious

1. adjective

   displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses

   “enjoyed a
   luxurious suite with a crystal chandelier and thick oriental rugs”

   synonyms:

   epicurean, luxuriant, sybaritic, voluptuary, voluptuous

   indulgent

   characterized by or given to yielding to the wishes of someone

2. adjective

   rich and superior in quality

   synonyms:

   deluxe, gilded, grand, opulent, princely, sumptuous

   rich

   suggestive of or characterized by great expense

: characterized by opulence, sumptuousness, or rich abundance : of, relating to, or marked by luxury

: of the finest and richest kind

the sensuous delights of great music

a life devoted to sensual pleasures

one of the country’s most luxurious resorts

a store that caters to the luxurious tastes of the rich

Recent Examples on the Web

Use Cobalt Blue as a Primary Color As a foundational color, cobalt is luxurious.


—Kristina Mcguirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2023




Constructed with rust-resistant steel and quick-drying foam to help prevent water retention, Burrow’s sofas manage to be luxurious without demanding grueling upkeep.


—Nikolas Greenwald, Good Housekeeping, 29 Mar. 2023




During your stay you’ll be treated to waterfront vistas rivaling some of the most luxurious resorts in town.


—Tamara Gane, Chron, 28 Mar. 2023




Bump absorption is impressively luxurious without excess body motion.


—Tribune News Service, Dallas News, 25 Mar. 2023




On my first morning at the luxurious, eco-friendly new Alpine resort, the Geislergruppe massif directly opposite seemed to rise like stage scenery, its peaks glittering with snow.


—Liam Hess, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2023




Set within the Ritz Carlton Al Wadi grounds, although not allied with the hotel, the experience is far more luxurious than many desert nights.


—Michele Robson, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023




Set alongside the aquamarine waters of the Persian Gulf, these fraternal twin hotels are each luxurious in their own ways.


—Lilit Marcus, CNN, 23 Mar. 2023




Rocky Mountaineer Rockies to the Red Rocks, United States Rocky Mountaineer offers four scenic train routes through some of North America’s most stunning landscapes, complete with luxurious cars outfitted with glass dome windows.


—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2023


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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘luxurious.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler

The first known use of luxurious was
in the 14th century