inventive

adjective

in·​ven·​tive in-ˈven-tiv 

1

: adept or prolific at producing inventions : creative

an inventive mind

2

: characterized by invention

an inventive method

inventively adverb

inventiveness noun

Synonyms

• artful
• clever
• creative
• imaginative
• ingenious
• innovative

Examples of inventive in a Sentence

They have given their new company an inventive name.

inventive ways to use leftovers

Recent Examples on the Web

Midtown newcomers Majka and Kin Thai were added to the guide earlier this spring for their inventive menus and strong community roots. —Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

The film is a marvel, with a cornucopia of inventive gags and a story that captures the heartbreak and hilarity of growing up. —Barry Levitt, Time, 26 June 2025

Visually inventive and brilliantly written, this is easily one of Pixar’s best. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 20 June 2025

Georgia has emerged one of the more entertaining, cunning and inventive antiheroes of the 2020s. —Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inventive

• agentive
• attentive
• incentive
• preventive
• retentive
• disincentive
• inattentive

Kids Definition

inventive

adjective

in·​ven·​tive in-ˈvent-iv 

: gifted with the skill and imagination to invent

inventively adverb

inventiveness noun