suggestive

adjective

sug·​ges·​tive səg-ˈje-stiv 

sə-ˈje-

1

a

: giving a suggestion : indicative

suggestive of a past era

b

: full of suggestions : stimulating thought

provided a suggestive … commentary on the era

—Lloyd Morris

c

: stirring mental associations : evocative

2

: suggesting or tending to suggest something improper or indecent : risqué

suggestively adverb

suggestiveness noun

Synonyms

• spicy
• vulgar
• blue
• lewd

Examples of suggestive in a Sentence

making unwelcome suggestive remarks to a subordinate will be regarded as sexual harassment

a haunting and suggestive song about a long-lost love

Recent Examples on the Web

This dash of skepticism is welcome, in the cauldron brew of the Marlovian legend, yet even Kuriyama is faced with certain details, at once verifiable and highly suggestive, that float in the murk. —Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025

The album cover, which was shared on Instagram, was immediately met with harsh criticism as many fans labeled the photograph of the singer on all fours with a man pulling her hair as suggestive. —Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025

Yes, the suggestive dance routines indicate Carpenter really studied Miley Cyrus’s Bangerz-era twerk heard round the world. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025

Earlier studies suggest climate change may worsen clear-air turbulence, but limited data and modeling challenges mean these findings should be seen as suggestive, not conclusive. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for suggestive

• congestive
• digestive
• festive
• restive

Kids Definition

suggestive

adjective

sug·​ges·​tive sə(g)-ˈjes-tiv 

1

a

: giving a suggestion : indicative

suggestive of a past era

b

: full of suggestions : stimulating thought

c

: stirring mental associations

2

: suggesting something improper or indecent

suggestively adverb

suggestiveness noun

Medical Definition

suggestive

adjective

sug·​ges·​tive sə(g)-ˈjes-tiv 

1

: serving to indicate

a butterfly-shaped red rash … is highly suggestive of the disease

—S. E. Goldfinger et al.

2

: tending to act like or have the effect of suggestion

Legal Definition

suggestive

adjective

sug·​ges·​tive

: giving a suggestion or making a hint: as

a

: being a trademark, trade dress, trade name, or service mark that requires the consumer to use thought and imagination to perceive the nature of the product or service

Note: Suggestive marks are entitled to trademark protection without proof of secondary meaning.

b

: relating to or being a lineup that in some way suggests to the witness which member of the lineup is in fact the defendant