evocative

1 of 2

adjective

evoc·​a·​tive i-ˈvä-kə-tiv 

: evoking or tending to evoke an especially emotional response

… settings … so evocative that they bring tears to the eyes …

—Eric Malpass

evocatively adverb

evocativeness noun

evocativeness

2 of 2

noun

evoc·​a·​tive·​ness

plural -es

: evocative quality

the enormous evocativeness of the picture and its curious feeling of timelessness

—R. M. Coates

Synonyms of evocative

Adjective

• reminiscent

Examples of evocative in a Sentence

Adjective

He wrote a powerful and evocative biography.

the Italian-American restaurant is decorated in a manner evocative of the charming outdoor cafés in Italy

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This standalone novel looks at the cult of celebrity, the bond among parents and children, entitlement and arrogance, all wrapped into a tightly wound plot that’s an evocative historical steeped in the Great Depression. — Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2026

Released on September 29, this 352-page treatise—laden with evocative photography—was written by Eric Hendrikx and published by Artisan Books. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2026

The shirt, paired with a tie, and the single-breasted blazer were rendered in shades of green and blue, with picturesque country and waterside scenes evocative of a quintessential Nantucket summer. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

It’s so beautifully crafted, with huge crowd scenes, evocative locations and a real sense of time and place. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1657, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for evocative

• provocative
• talkative
• vocative

Kids Definition

evocative

adjective

evoc·​a·​tive i-ˈväk-ət-iv 

: having the power to evoke an especially emotional response

an evocative photograph