cre·a·tive
krē-ˈā-tiv 
ˈkrē-ˌā-
1
2
: having the quality of something created rather than imitated : imaginative
the creative arts
creative writing
3
: managed so as to get around legal or conventional limits
creative financing
also
: deceptively arranged so as to conceal or defraud
creative accounting
creatively
adverb
creativeness
noun
1
: one who is creative
especially
: one involved in the creation of advertisements
2
: creative activity or the material produced by it especially in advertising
Examples of creative in a Sentence
Adjective
She's a very creative person.
She has one of the most creative minds in the business.
They've come up with some creative new ways to make money.
a creative solution to a difficult problem
He teaches creative writing at the university.
the first step in the creative process
It turns out that the company's report of record profits last year was due to some creative accounting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
The desire to be original and authentic, and to use the creative process as a form of discovery and self-expression, largely replaced overt concerns with God.
—Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
The forum will showcase top creatives and offer discussions about storytelling opportunities.
—William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for creative
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.
Adjective
Even the most ambitious stories often felt exhausted by the third installment, with diminishing creative and financial returns.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
The desire to be original and authentic, and to use the creative process as a form of discovery and self-expression, largely replaced overt concerns with God.
—Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
Tarantino collaborator Avary is the latest to tackle the influential and complex John Milton poem of 1667, which has long posed a challenge for creatives seeking to adapt its story about the fall of man.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
The forum will showcase top creatives and offer discussions about storytelling opportunities.
—William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for creative
Cite this Entry
“Creative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creative. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
