impressive

adjective

im·​pres·​sive im-ˈpre-siv 

: making or tending to make a marked impression : having the power to excite attention, awe, or admiration

an impressive display of skill

impressively adverb

impressiveness noun

Synonyms of impressive

• emotional
• exciting
• excitable

Choose the Right Synonym for impressive

moving, impressive, poignant, affecting, touching, pathetic mean having the power to produce deep emotion.

moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Examples of impressive in a Sentence

He has an impressive vocabulary for a 10-year-old.

Her first performance was very impressive.

He has an impressive manner.

Recent Examples on the Web

Wang is an extraordinarily mobile player for his size, with impressive skating technique through his inside and outside edges laterally and flowing mechanics going north or back to pucks. —Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

Launching a plane into space and then landing it on a runway with all the crew remaining in there still feels technologically impressive. —Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2026

Among the many features that make the tower impressive is its nine different indoor zones, each with its own atrium, garden, and cafes. —Nathalie Nietzsche-Knappe, Architectural Digest, 7 Apr. 2026

An Australian forward, Somfai was impressive in her freshman season for a Cardinal team that didn’t have a ton of high points. —Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for impressive

• aggressive
• compressive
• concessive
• depressive
• excessive
• expressive
• obsessive
• oppressive
• possessive
• progressive
• recessive
• regressive

Kids Definition

impressive

adjective

im·​pres·​sive im-ˈpres-iv 

: having the power to impress the mind or feelings

an impressive speech

impressively adverb

impressiveness noun