It seems that fulsome is one of those words that has changed meanings over the years!!! According to Mirriam-Webster it also can mean an “abundance” or “generous amount” or “being full & well developed” or“exceeding the bounds of good taste”. So, I’m guessing that it had a positive meaning way back when he went to school!!!

It doesn’t feel as if any of your definitions apply. I don’t think he knows what it means.

I too have memories of the word being thrown around in the 60s as a flattering adjective for “full figured” girls.

Actually, if you look at the link you provided, number 4 is the exact way they are using it.

“4. encompassing all aspects; comprehensive:
a fulsome survey of the political situation in Central America.”

I would not have know it could be used to mean that.

IF you google it, it says the origin of the word is “full+some” meaning abundant. I know my Gramps always used the word when he had an excellent crop for the year & he always said that he had a “fulsome harvest” indicating he had an abundant crop that would feed us all winter. My Gramps wasn’t that much older than Flakes.

I have NO doubt that Flakes doesn’t know how he’s using the word; but, I don’t see him that far off base either. He’s wanting an abundant investigation that will lead to the TRUTH before he can make up his mind!!! Since he seems to be the ONLY Republican listening to what is being said, I’m find it difficult to say he’s wrong!!!

I must admit the word “bosoms” seems to run alongside the word “fulsome” in my mind.

“Thorough” would have been a better word i guess. “Fulsome” seems out of place whatever the meaning. As long as he knows what needs to be done no need to tell anything..)

As logic dictates, do you know what self righteous means?

Wiktionary summarizes the issue with this word perfectly:

“Common usage tends toward the negative connotation, and using fulsome in the sense of abundant, copious, or mature may lead to confusion without contextual prompts.”

I think he meant to say “full”, (or maybe not).

So, the definition for this word is, complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree, so that will be the answer.

Wasn’t the word featured in the Hamm’s beer tune “from the land of sky blue waters”? I just listened to the tune because I thought the second line was “from the land of pines lofty fulsom”, but I cannot actually make out what follows lofty.

It also sounds suspiciously biblical. At least it rings that way in my head.