AMPLE Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'ample' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ample are abundant , copious , and plentiful . While all these words mean "more than sufficient without being excessive," ample implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement. // ample food to last the winter

Q: How do 'abundant' and 'plentiful' relate to one another, in the sense of 'ample'?

Abundant suggests an even greater or richer supply than does plentiful . // streams abundant with fish

Q: When would 'copious' be a good substitute for 'ample'?

The meanings of copious and ample largely overlap; however, copious stresses largeness of supply rather than fullness or richness. // copious examples of bureaucratic waste

Q: When is it sensible to use 'plentiful' instead of 'ample'?

In some situations, the words plentiful and ample are roughly equivalent. However, plentiful implies a great or rich supply. // peaches are plentiful this summer

ample

adjective

ˈam-pəl

Definition of ample

as in plenty

being more than enough without being excessive there's ample time to order a pizza before the show

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in spacious

more than adequate or average in capacity a husky fellow, he always heads for the most ample chair in the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ample differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ample are abundant, copious, and plentiful. While all these words mean "more than sufficient without being excessive," ample implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement.

ample food to last the winter

How do abundant and plentiful relate to one another, in the sense of ample?

Abundant suggests an even greater or richer supply than does plentiful.

streams abundant with fish

When would copious be a good substitute for ample?

The meanings of copious and ample largely overlap; however, copious stresses largeness of supply rather than fullness or richness.

copious examples of bureaucratic waste

When is it sensible to use plentiful instead of ample?

In some situations, the words plentiful and ample are roughly equivalent. However, plentiful implies a great or rich supply.

peaches are plentiful this summer

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 ample Despite ample climate capital, much targets mature technologies. — Rob Day, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Between then and now, the club has held 21 practices and played two preseason games, giving the coaching and personnel staffs ample time to evaluate. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 That’s when ocean waters are warmest, providing ample fuel for storm convection. — Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026 The return will be guaranteed, the principal won't change and, unlike investing, your account will be FDIC-insured up to $250,000, giving you ample protection with an account of this size. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ample

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ample

Adjective

Southern California is known for its mild winters, warm summers and plentiful sunshine.

— Ben Noll, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026
Restaurants are plentiful here, but focus your appetite on Tong Thai La Farine, the latter of which has French cakes and pastries worth every calorie.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of plentiful

Adjective

Think baking dishes for holiday get-togethers, serveware for birthday celebrations, and even a new, more spacious dining table.

— Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
The multiple entertaining spaces include a large living room with a piano, a dining area, and a spacious kitchen with checkerboard floor tiling and French doors to the gardens.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of spacious

Adjective

But the attendance announced by USC — 51,144 — admittedly felt generous.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
The upcoming docuseries showcases a raw record of his life from the generous, vulnerable and wisecracking side of Perry to new details about his offscreen battles with drugs and alcohol, according to the logline.

— Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of generous

Adjective

To study dark energy, Roman will measure how gravity bends light across large cosmic distances — creating a 3D map of dark matter in the process.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
In 2022, Cuban founded Cost Plus Drugs, a website created to sell generic medication at a lower price than most large pharmacies.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of large

Adjective

The Iran war exposed just how much the world relied on a narrow 20-mile-wide waterway.

— Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Not only do the gods have multiple heads and arms, but the gods themselves are multiple, appearing in different forms with an array of different names, and with a wide variety of stories told about them.

— Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of wide

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“Ample.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ample. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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