exhortative

adjective

ex·​hor·​ta·​tive ig-ˈzȯr-tə-tiv How to pronounce exhortative (audio)
: serving to exhort

Examples of exhortative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Where other climate books are exhortative or doom-laden, Doerr’s is straightforward. Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2021 Not far behind is the pulpit dervish Clara Walker, whose exhortative way with a tune doubles as furnace and fan. New York Times, 24 June 2021 In it, the exhortative words of James Baldwin and Martin Luther King, Jr. have been converted into a musical score, recordings of which sound through the gallery. New York Times, 18 Feb. 2021 Similarly, a fantastical and allegorical epergne, or ornamental server, made for the centennial exhibition, features a female figure embodying America — hair flowing, garland in hand — standing upon a globe, as exhortative as the national anthem. Cate McQuaid, BostonGlobe.com, 3 July 2019 And even after her death, the show stays on message, thanks to an exhortative turn by the production’s only other female character, Joan’s mother (Mare Winningham, in an 11 o’clock appearance). Ben Brantley, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2017 Neither the Apple nor the Gabriel plays are exhortative in any polemical way. Ben Brantley, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exhortative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exhortative was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near exhortative

Cite this Entry

“Exhortative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhortative. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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