impressive

adjective

im·​pres·​sive im-ˈpre-siv 

: making or tending to make a marked impression : having the power to excite attention, awe, or admiration

an impressive display of skill

impressively adverb

impressiveness noun

Synonyms of impressive

• emotional
• exciting
• excitable

Choose the Right Synonym for impressive

moving, impressive, poignant, affecting, touching, pathetic mean having the power to produce deep emotion.

moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Examples of impressive in a Sentence

He has an impressive vocabulary for a 10-year-old.

Her first performance was very impressive.

He has an impressive manner.

Recent Examples on the Web

The trail brushes past the Bell Rock formation, then curves away from the road and crosses some red rock ledges offering impressive vistas. —Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 8 Nov. 2025

When Mines stopped the ThunderWolves on downs on the next drive, the offense put together an impressive eight-play, 73-yard drive, which included seven runs and an incomplete pass, to bust this game open at 28-6. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025

The group — which has thousands of members and has notched an impressive number of legislative victories on the local and state level — seeks to harness the grief and anger of survivors of crash victims to ensure that other families aren’t forced to endure their heartache. —Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025

The Redhawks shot an impressive 89% at the free-throw line. —Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for impressive

• aggressive
• compressive
• concessive
• depressive
• excessive
• expressive
• obsessive
• oppressive
• possessive
• progressive
• recessive
• regressive

Kids Definition

impressive

adjective

im·​pres·​sive im-ˈpres-iv 

: having the power to impress the mind or feelings

an impressive speech

impressively adverb

impressiveness noun