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

• bawdy
• blue
• gamy
• gamey
• lewd
• off
• off-color
• off-colored
• racy
• ribald
• risqué
• salty
• spicy

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

Contains supernatural action/violence, language and suggestive references. —Ty Burr, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024

Almost immediately, a savvy royal watcher found a 2016 image of Kate, which appears to map onto the paparazzi snap with suggestive precision. —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2024

Kid actors were made to wear suggestive costumes and take part in inappropriate sketches full of physical comedy and hinting at pornographic undertones, the series claims. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024

The series claims that kid actors were made to wear suggestive costumes and take part in inappropriate sketches with pornographic undertones. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024

What to Know About the PG-13-Rated Movie There are brief suggestive jokes Some of the puns and gags act as playful innuendos that will likely go over the heads of children. —Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024

Researchers found highly suggestive evidence that eating more ultraprocessed foods raised the risk of obesity by 55%, sleep disorders by 41%, development of type 2 diabetes by 40% and the risk of depression by 20%. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024

Contains some strong language, suggestive material and mature thematic elements. —Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024

Whether this is suggestive of more unity among 2020 Democrats than 2024 Republicans is difficult to say. —Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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