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
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Recent Examples of comparative
Peter Bolland, author and longtime professor of philosophy, comparative religion, and mythology, will lead a thoughtful discussion on applying Daoist wisdom today.
—
Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
China will continue leading manufacturing scale for the foreseeable future, but the US can build comparative advantage in the circular economy.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
Maria Loconsole, a comparative psychologist at the University of Padua in Italy, and her colleagues decided to investigate the bouba-kiki effect in baby chicks because the birds could be tested almost immediately after hatching, before their brain would be influenced by exposure to the world.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2026
Uthmeier bears a comparative lack of experience, at least in Florida’s criminal courtrooms.
—Dan Sullivan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for comparative
Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
China will continue leading manufacturing scale for the foreseeable future, but the US can build comparative advantage in the circular economy.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
Maria Loconsole, a comparative psychologist at the University of Padua in Italy, and her colleagues decided to investigate the bouba-kiki effect in baby chicks because the birds could be tested almost immediately after hatching, before their brain would be influenced by exposure to the world.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2026
Uthmeier bears a comparative lack of experience, at least in Florida’s criminal courtrooms.
—Dan Sullivan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for comparative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comparative
relative
Adjective
-
What are the relative velocities between them?—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Mar. 2026
-
While audio listening overall continues on a healthy trajectory, the go-go times of a few years ago, when Spotify and rivals were scooping up talent and emerging studios, have segued to a period of relative austerity.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Comparative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comparative. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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