English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com

voluminous

6 antonyms and opposites of voluminous, grouped by meaning.

Adjective — Very large in quantity or extent, especially of writing, records or evidence.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Very large in quantity or extent, especially of writing, records or evidence.

“The inquiry produced voluminous documentation.”

Opposites

2. adjective

Of clothing or fabric: very full and loose, using a great deal of material.

“She swept in wearing a voluminous velvet cloak.”

Opposites

3. adjective

Occupying a great deal of space; bulky.

“A voluminous cloud of steam filled the kitchen.”

Antonyms

How to use voluminous

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

voluminous skirt voluminous hair voluminous notes voluminous evidence

Neutral to literary; frequent in fashion writing and legal reporting.

Etymology

From late Latin voluminosus, from volumen 'a roll or scroll'.

Full origin of voluminous →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between voluminous and bulky?

Bulky stresses awkward mass and weight — a bulky parcel is hard to carry. Voluminous stresses generous volume and is usually admiring, especially about fabric that falls in soft folds. A voluminous skirt is elegant; a bulky one is not.

Does voluminous relate to the word volume?

Yes. Both come from Latin volumen, a rolled scroll — the source of 'volume' meaning a book as well as 'volume' meaning space occupied. Voluminous inherited both threads, which is why it describes both bulky garments and enormous quantities of writing.

Can hair be voluminous?

Yes, and it is one of the most common uses today. Voluminous hair is thick and full with plenty of body, as opposed to flat or limp hair.

People also searched

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of voluminous
Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.