instructive
adjective
in·struc·tive
in-ˈstrək-tiv 
: carrying a lesson : enlightening
instructively
adverb
instructiveness
noun
Examples of instructive in a Sentence
an interesting and instructive lesson
an instructive demonstration of the proper way to pack a suitcase so your clothes don't arrive in a mess
Recent Examples on the Web
His legacy is instructive—and not just because Marco Rubio is the first person to serve simultaneously as secretary of State and national security advisor since Kissinger.
—
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Last year, Hardeep Dhillon, a historian at the University of Pennsylvania, shared some research with me that is instructive in this current moment.
—Michael Luo, New Yorker, 20 May 2025
The issue of identity is not just a fad but becomes a fact of self-determination — in this context, Dahomey’s flaws are instructive for this moment when race and gender exploitation runs rampant and unchecked.
—Armond White, National Review, 16 May 2025
Wagner’s interests away from the entertainment arena are instructive.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for instructive
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Last year, Hardeep Dhillon, a historian at the University of Pennsylvania, shared some research with me that is instructive in this current moment.
—Michael Luo, New Yorker, 20 May 2025
The issue of identity is not just a fad but becomes a fact of self-determination — in this context, Dahomey’s flaws are instructive for this moment when race and gender exploitation runs rampant and unchecked.
—Armond White, National Review, 16 May 2025
Wagner’s interests away from the entertainment arena are instructive.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for instructive
Cite this Entry
“Instructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instructive. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
instructive
adjective
in·struc·tive
in-ˈstrək-tiv
: giving knowledge : helping to instruct or inform
an instructive experience
instructively
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share