evocative

adjective

evoc·​a·​tive i-ˈvä-kə-tiv 

: evoking or tending to evoke an especially emotional response

… settings … so evocative that they bring tears to the eyes …

—Eric Malpass

evocatively adverb

evocativeness noun

Synonyms of evocative

• reminiscent

Examples of evocative in a Sentence

He wrote a powerful and evocative biography.

the Italian-American restaurant is decorated in a manner evocative of the charming outdoor cafés in Italy

Recent Examples on the Web

After years of grassland research and hikes through curlew habitat, evocative moments from the birds’ lives were vivid in my mind. — Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026

Through such simple but evocative images, Zhang creates a whole world of suspicion and sadness. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026

The shocking shade, historically associated with girlhood, was immediately evocative of a new sensibility. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026

But Possible Love is the sort of singularly rich, overflowing, evocative drama that covers an entire spectrum of emotions, running the gamut from bliss to bad behavior. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for evocative

• provocative
• talkative
• vocative

Kids Definition

evocative

adjective

evoc·​a·​tive i-ˈväk-ət-iv 

: having the power to evoke an especially emotional response

an evocative photograph