abortive
adjective
abor·tive
ə-ˈbȯr-tiv 
1
obsolete
: prematurely born
2
3
: imperfectly formed or developed
4
: tending to cut short
abortively
adverb
abortiveness
noun
Examples of abortive in a Sentence
an abortive attempt to recover the sunken pirate ship
Recent Examples on the Web
Microsoft is well-positioned to run a redo of Valve's abortive Steam Machines effort, only this time without the performance headaches and limited library of Linux ports that plagued that effort.
—
ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025
In the abortive March 2022 draft deals, Russia even expressed a willingness to return to preinvasion lines.
—Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2025
Despite being hurt by a number of abortive early stabs at voice recognition in decades gone by, voice recognition when done well can actually provide a uniquely direct way of accessing content and features on modern TVs.
—John Archer, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
The military establishment was especially sensitive to criticism at the time – less than a month after the abortive revolt by Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin.
—Katharina Krebs, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abortive
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ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025
In the abortive March 2022 draft deals, Russia even expressed a willingness to return to preinvasion lines.
—Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2025
Despite being hurt by a number of abortive early stabs at voice recognition in decades gone by, voice recognition when done well can actually provide a uniquely direct way of accessing content and features on modern TVs.
—John Archer, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
The military establishment was especially sensitive to criticism at the time – less than a month after the abortive revolt by Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin.
—Katharina Krebs, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abortive
Cite this Entry
“Abortive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abortive. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
abortive
adjective
abor·tive
ə-ˈbȯrt-iv
1
: unsuccessful in achieving the desired conclusion or result
an abortive escape attempt
2
: imperfectly formed or developed : rudimentary
abortively
adverb
abortiveness
noun
Medical Definition
abortive
adjective
abor·tive
ə-ˈbȯrt-iv
1
: imperfectly formed or developed : rudimentary
2
a
b
: cutting short
abortive treatment of pneumonia
c
: failing to develop completely or typically
an abortive case of poliomyelitis
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