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 of inventive

• innovative
• imaginative
• creative
• clever

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

Have a look through the gallery for more examples of inventive camping and adventure vehicles fresh off their appearance in Bangkok. —New Atlas, 8 Apr. 2026

Brian Eno, one of the most inventive minds in music, co-created a card deck called Oblique Strategies with artist Peter Schmidt in 1975. —Jennifer Sodini, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026

In fact, the spirit of their terrifyingly inventive script traces all the way back to the mid-1990s in Boulder, Colorado — where the filmmaking duo first met. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Apr. 2026

Over the last 25 years, Nolan has delivered film after film that deftly balances mainstream appeal with eye-popping visuals, inventive narrative structures and special effects, and existential and/or philosophical themes. —ArsTechnica, 6 Apr. 2026

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