expansive

adjective

ik-ˈspan(t)-siv How to pronounce expansive (audio)
Definition of expansivenext
as in extensive
having considerable extent as the river nears the end of its long journey to the sea it becomes quite expansive in breadth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of expansive Paramount Pictures leaders Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein will be elevated to an expansive creative post, multiple sources tell Variety, overseeing heads of individual film labels across both companies (like New Line stalwart Richard Brener). — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026 An expansive public plaza surrounding Los Angeles’s recently opened Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will be permanently fenced off, reports the Los Angeles Times. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 September is usually prime time for hurricanes because storm-fueling warm water is at its most expansive and hottest alongside ripe atmospheric factors. — Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 Get this expansive 65-inch QLED powerhouse with a huge 40% discount for an early Prime Day win! — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expansive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expansive
  1. extensive
  2. broad
  3. wide
  4. sweeping
  5. deep
Adjective
  • Avila said the attack left her with severe injuries to her arm and face, extensive scarring, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In that hands-on evaluation, the reviewer put the Flow 2 through extensive real-world testing across two months in a demanding household environment, covering over 100 cleaning jobs and more than 18,500 square feet of floor space.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of extensive
Adjective
  • Russian media highlighted an even broader collection of technologies, including mass drone deployments, counter-drone systems, electronic warfare, precision weapons and mobile assault units.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Individually, the songs on Beat were largely recognizable in the broader indie rock world—post-rock and shoegaze live alongside torchy trip-hop and pure ambient.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of broad
Adjective
  • Four of these angles implicitly frame the corners of a square, while a fifth seems to indicate a wider area around it.
    — Barry Schwabsky, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Trasks encounter a wide swath of citizens, haggling with sneaky cheats, exploiting innocent fools, and befriending big-hearted neighbors.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of wide
Adjective
  • The Ratepayer Protection Act, meant to prevent data centers from raising electricity prices, enjoyed sweeping support in the House from all but three Democrats while all but four of their colleagues in the Senate opposed it.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Justice Department’s settlement proposal at the time sought sweeping changes to admissions, protest rules and other campus policies, including a public declaration that UCLA does not recognize transgender people’s gender identities.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of sweeping
Adjective
  • Democrats’ hopes rise in Texas Democrats are feeling newly optimistic about Texas, even in deep-red seats.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Later, Mars trines Neptune in your 8th House, making deeper reflection feel more intuitive than analytical.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of deep

Browse Nearby Words

expansions
expansive
ex parte
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expansive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expansive. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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