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
Dobson’s work was part of a broader comparative effort examining melanosome morphology across approximately 120 other mammal species.
—
Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
Texas Christian University will shutter standalone departments in comparative race and ethnic studies and women and gender studies in 2026, merging them into the English department.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
Wayne Koestenbaum is a Distinguished Professor of English, French, and comparative literature at the CUNY Graduate Center.
—Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
The price of a college degree is soaring while its comparative benefit is shrinking.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for comparative
Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
Texas Christian University will shutter standalone departments in comparative race and ethnic studies and women and gender studies in 2026, merging them into the English department.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
Wayne Koestenbaum is a Distinguished Professor of English, French, and comparative literature at the CUNY Graduate Center.
—Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
The price of a college degree is soaring while its comparative benefit is shrinking.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for comparative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comparative
relative
Adjective
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Because the high- and low-pressure rotors spin in opposite ways, the engine maintains relative speed and reduces absolute rotational speed, thus lowering centrifugal forces on blades and discs.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
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Played by Matarazzo, whose curly hair and relative worldliness help to cement the Jonah Hill of it all, Jack is struggling to enjoy what are supposed to be the best years of his life.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Comparative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comparative. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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