instructive
adjective
in·struc·tive
in-ˈstrək-tiv 
: 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
The sculpture, unveiled by the artist Eric Fischl in 2000 and titled Soul in Flight, is worth pausing to look at, for its instructive power and its indictment of the ponderous slabs of metallurgical debris that litter other stadiums and arenas.
—
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
Although your question pertains to walking, every type of vehicle has its own etiquette for passing, and examining the common features among the different systems is instructive.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2025
Here is the model, smouldering in front of you—an experience that is intimate, instructive and, crucially, scalable.
—Lela London, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Whether Smith is still handling it well may be a more instructive question than solely looking at numbers.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instructive
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.
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
Although your question pertains to walking, every type of vehicle has its own etiquette for passing, and examining the common features among the different systems is instructive.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2025
Here is the model, smouldering in front of you—an experience that is intimate, instructive and, crucially, scalable.
—Lela London, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Whether Smith is still handling it well may be a more instructive question than solely looking at numbers.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instructive
Cite this Entry
“Instructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instructive. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
instructive
adjective
in·struc·tive
in-ˈstrək-tiv
: giving knowledge : helping to instruct or inform
an instructive experience
instructively
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share