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

Monsod’s inventive cooking and the glamorous see-and-be-seen atmosphere makes for a great night out. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026

Drinks balance precision with approachability, spanning spirit-forward classics and inventive seasonal drinks that stop you in your tracks. — Usa Today Network, USA Today, 29 July 2026

As time passes, the kills have to get more inventive to sustain the level of suspense required for a decent sized group of people to be in fear of their lives for a prolong period of time. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

The most inventive kill here — set in a school gym, cuing death by treadmill and falling weights — is also the least motivated, but no matter. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 July 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