Definition of comparativenext
as in relative
being such only when compared to something else if you consider the multimillionaire's yearly income, we're living in comparative poverty

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of comparative The company has not released comparative data showing how much Strato improves forecast accuracy over existing observation methods. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026 Argentina’s program is poised to be one of the most popular options on the market, due to the country's comparative proximity to the United States, strong economy, and passport power. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 Mazzei holds a degree in comparative literature from UC Berkeley. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026 One reason Chicago’s comparative statistics are now worse than ever is because cities across the country, including Chicago, experienced a significant decline in homicides in recent years. — John Schmidt, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for comparative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comparative
relative
Adjective
  • The 5-year relative survival rate for non-small cell lung cancer is 67% if the cancer has not spread outside of the lung, according to the ACS.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The first is a ratio chart, which is one of the best tools for gauging relative strength.
    — Todd Gordon, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Comparative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comparative. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster