WORD OF THE DAY: REPLETE
adjective | rih-PLEET
What It Means
Replete is an adjective used to describe things as “fully or abundantly provided or filled,” “abundantly fed,” “stout,” or “complete.”
// The book is replete with photographs.
// Everyone settled back and relaxed, replete after the meal.
// The hotel room was replete with all the amenities you’d expect.
Examples of REPLETE
“Her pantry is a rack replete with many of the seasonings, staples and condiments listed in her cookbook.” — Eddie Lin, The Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
Did You Know?
It’s no coincidence that replete and complete are close in meaning. Both words come from the Latin verb plēre, meaning “to fill,” and both indicate that something contains all that is wanted, needed, or possible. There are some subtle differences in usage, however. Complete applies when all that is needed is present (“a complete picture of the situation”), whereas replete is the synonym of choice when fullness is accompanied by a sense of satiety (“the buffet was replete with dishes from all over the world”). Etymology fans may be interested to know that the list of plēre descendants doesn’t end with these two; English is in fact replete with them. Some other words supplied by this Latin verb include deplete, expletive, implement, and supply.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
