Entry Word: suggestive

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <making suggestive remarks to one's classmates will not be tolerated>

Synonyms bawdy, lewd, racy, ribald, salty, spicy

Related Words leering; coarse, crude, earthy, foul, gross; dirty, filthy, lascivious, nasty, obscene, pornographic, smutty, unprintable, vulgar; indecorous, unbecoming; naughty, wicked; exceptionable, objectionable, unacceptable, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome

Near Antonyms clean, decent; innocuous, inoffensive; priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, straitlaced (or straightlaced), Victorian; correct, decorous, genteel, polite, proper, seemly; acceptable, agreeable, desirable, pleasant, pleasing, welcome; appropriate, becoming, fit, meet, suitable; immaculate, pure, spotless

2 provoking a memory or mental association <a haunting and suggestive song about a long-lost love>

Synonyms evocative, reminiscent

Related Words eloquent, expressive, meaningful, significant; affecting, emotional, moving, poignant, stirring, touching; exciting, provocative, provoking, rousing, stimulating

3 clearly conveying a special meaning (as oneʼs mood) <the dogʼs aggressive behavior is suggestive of some past mistreatment> — see expressive