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

The doors, which are not found in Homer’s poem, are evocative of the screen between priest and penitent in Catholic confession—a setting that Nolan, who was raised Catholic, would be familiar with. — Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026

Kitty’s strapless purple gown—complete with a sweetheart neckline—is evocative of Diana’s famous purple Victor Edelstein dress, worn famously in 1991 and 1997. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 20 July 2026

Van Hoytema fills the giant frame with imposing images shot in evocative international locations, grand and powerful in scale. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026

Shifting baseline syndrome was initially considered an evocative parable of humans’ estrangement from wild nature—a warning in the form of a hypothesis. — Literary Hub, 15 July 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