William Safire
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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.
Examples of replete in a Sentence
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Lac-Brome Set along the scenic shores of Brome Lake, the quaint village of Knowlton is replete with buildings of various architectural styles, from Gothic to Greek Revival to Victorian.
—Jeanine Barone, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Heidi Zuckerman has married her decades-long immersion in the art world with her boundless energy to create a mini multimedia empire, replete with books, a podcast, and a newsletter—all while holding a serious day job as a museum director.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2025
Although court records are replete with references to an ongoing FBI investigation, the FBI has so far declined to comment substantively on the Zizian group.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for replete
Cite this Entry
“Replete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/replete. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
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replete
adjective
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