abundant
9 antonyms and opposites of abundant, grouped by meaning.
Adj — Existing in large quantities; plentiful.
Antonyms
How to use abundant
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin abundans, the present participle of abundare, "to overflow with."
Full origin of abundant →Frequently asked questions
What does “abundant” mean?
The word “abundant” means existing in large quantities; plentiful. In plain terms, present in large amounts; there's plenty of it around.
How do you pronounce “abundant”?
“Abundant” is pronounced uh-BUHN-duhnt (/əˈbʌn.dənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “abundant” in a sentence?
Here is “abundant” used in a sentence: “Wildlife is abundant in this part of the forest.”
What is another word for “abundant”?
Words with a similar meaning to “abundant” include ample, bountiful, copious, exuberant, liberal and overflowing.
What is the opposite of “abundant”?
The opposite of “abundant” — its antonyms — are insufficient, lacking, rare, scant and scarce.
What part of speech is “abundant”?
“Abundant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “abundant” come from?
The word “abundant” comes from Latin. From Latin abundans, the present participle of abundare, "to overflow with.".
Is “abundant” a common word?
“Abundant” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "abundant" and "excessive"?
"Abundant" describes something existing in large quantities in a positive or neutral sense, meaning plentiful. "Excessive" implies an amount beyond what is needed or reasonable, so abundant resources are welcome while excessive ones are often a problem.
Is "abundant" used more in formal or everyday writing?
"Abundant" appears in both, but it leans slightly more formal or descriptive than everyday alternatives like "a lot" or "plenty," making it common in nature writing, reports, and academic contexts. It fits well when describing resources, wildlife, or evidence in large quantities.
Can "abundant" describe people, or only things?
"Abundant" typically describes quantities of things, resources, or qualities, such as abundant rainfall, abundant evidence, or abundant opportunities, rather than describing people directly. A group of people would more naturally be called "numerous" than "abundant."