reformative

adjective

re·​for·​ma·​tive ri-ˈfȯr-mə-tiv How to pronounce reformative (audio)
: intended or tending to reform

Examples of reformative in a Sentence

took reformative measures to curb abuses in the state's welfare system
Recent Examples on the Web Fifty-five years after Martin Luther King's death, African Americans continue to proudly honor his reformative legacy in Phoenix. The Arizona Republic, 14 Jan. 2024 While the idea of hiring actors might raise some eyebrows, acting and artistry can be an important step in the reformative process, and Hemsworth suggested that the actors’ real-life experiences helped shape their on-screen characters. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2023 The task won’t be easy: in recent weeks, the Petro government has been plagued by a series of defections and personnel scandals that have blocked the reformative push and exacerbated divisions in the government coalition. Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 24 July 2023 Behind the scenes, though, the bill text began not as a reformative measure, but as a company-friendly statute that would help industry avoid some regulations. Neil Bedi, ProPublica, 14 Dec. 2022 The redemptive and reformative power of stories runs through the film, the opening shot of which contains a spare movie set, dominated by scaffolding and a camera track on the floor. John Anderson, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2022 Moores positioned himself as the pro-police candidate compared to Stansbury's more reformative stance, reflecting national concerns about policing in the wake of killings of people of color by police and nationwide protests in favor of Black lives. Chelsey Cox, USA TODAY, 3 June 2021 The idea, while well-intentioned, appears to be more performative than reformative. Ellen McGirt, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2018 During her junior and senior years of high school, Escribano participated in the Law & Government Academy's student court, a judicial system for students to review offenses by their peers and determine a reformative course of action. Marlon Pitter, Courant Community, 18 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reformative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reformative was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near reformative

Cite this Entry

“Reformative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reformative. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

reformative

adjective
re·​for·​ma·​tive ri-ˈfȯr-mət-iv How to pronounce reformative (audio)
: tending or likely to reform

More from Merriam-Webster on reformative

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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