constitutive

adjective

ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌtü-tiv How to pronounce constitutive (audio)
Definition of constitutivenext
as in intrinsic
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing the proposition that liberty and justice are constitutive elements of an enlightened society

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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 constitutive But the sea also surges through Tennyson’s poetry in a completely different way, although one equally constitutive of his genius. — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 What the poem’s constitutive range of modal verbs exemplify is a mode of poetic questioning. — Elaine L. Wang september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025 Obviously, this dialectic has been constitutive of Gabriel Orozco’s work from the very beginning and determines it to this very day. — Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025 The globalist gaze on the world identified both interconnectedness and diversity as the constitutive elements of the post-war era. — Or Rosenboim, Foreign Affairs, 10 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constitutive
  1. intrinsic
  2. inherent
  3. integral
  4. essential
  5. constitutional
Adjective
  • Even without the Spectre, these drives are clearly powerful grin generators that amp up the camaraderie already intrinsic to car culture—doing so one scenic and amenity-laden leg at a time.
    — Iain Macauley, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The Financial Times has argued that the astronomical prices of top modernist paintings are less about intrinsic artistic value than wealth, scarcity, and the concentration of buying power among billionaires.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of intrinsic
Adjective
  • But Dead Zone backs still didn’t hit elite scoring seasons at a substantially better rate than late-round RBs, despite the inherent advantages of having stronger early-season roles, and that only amplifies the ceiling point.
    — Ben Gretch, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Now, as then, the world is churning over the identities of peoples and nations based on either ethnicity and religion or the values and rights inherent in all mankind.
    — Kurt Shillinger, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of inherent
Adjective
  • All eyes on food Diesel is integral to every part of the food supply chain.
    — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The Leipzig scenes are both ephemeral and integral; later, Taro will speculate that if the Germans had had the same revolutionary zeal as the Spanish, Hitler might have been defeated.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of integral
Adjective
  • Koeckeritz argued that a paved parking lot is an essential accessory to its main function — worship — not the principal use of the property across the street from the towering cathedral.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Which essential services, such as banks and postal delivery, will be closed?
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of essential
Adjective
  • Everybody on our side understands that impeachment is a critical tool in the toolbox for constitutional self-defense against a president acting like a king, an imperious, lawless, arrogant king.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
  • This could be the final county budget approved under current funding levels as Florida voters consider a constitutional amendment that would impose a property-tax cut across the state.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of constitutional

Browse Nearby Words

constitutions
constitutive
constrain
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Cite this Entry

“Constitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constitutive. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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