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
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The most instructive parallel to today’s AI boom may be the railroad construction boom of the 1870s and 1880s. Fortune, 2 June 2026 The political economy of Michigan provides an instructive explanation. Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026 What The Courts Are Beginning To Signal The legal system is starting to engage with these questions, and the signals are instructive. Samuel Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 The experience in other states is instructive; these boards have faced legal challenges, delays with implementation and uncertainty around enforcement. Chicago Tribune, 28 May 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 5 Jun. 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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