instructive

adjective

in·​struc·​tive in-ˈstrək-tiv How to pronounce instructive (audio)
Synonyms of instructivenext
: carrying a lesson : enlightening
instructively adverb
instructiveness noun

Examples of instructive in a Sentence

an interesting and instructive lesson an instructive demonstration of the proper way to pack a suitcase so your clothes don't arrive in a mess
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And as a result, the show — accompanied by some quite instructive poster art — stays true to the book’s lusty approach to ethically ambiguous relationships in academia. Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2026 Loved this origin story on my colleague Jeff Gluck’s simple yet instructive weekly social media poll, which hit its 10th anniversary this past week. Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026 Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox could be instructive. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 28 Feb. 2026 The most instructive perspective comes from the port of Torre Annunziata, where two Syrian workers are stationed on an enormous tank loaded with Ukrainian grain. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for instructive

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of instructive was in 1611

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Cite this Entry

“Instructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instructive. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

instructive

adjective
in·​struc·​tive in-ˈstrək-tiv How to pronounce instructive (audio)
: giving knowledge : helping to instruct or inform
an instructive experience
instructively adverb

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