creative

adjective

krē-ˈā-tiv How to pronounce creative (audio)
Definition of creativenext
1
as in innovative
having the skill and imagination to create new things Thomas Edison's status as perhaps America's greatest creative genius

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imaginative
showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing always coming up with creative ways to use hamburger

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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 creative Winkler recalled having only three weeks to work with MTV and Spears’s creative team to produce the stage design, at a time when digital collaboration was in its early infancy. — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026 Emery and Jarrell pointed to the creative freedom of audio drama as key to production. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 Having sat out last year’s edition following her departure from Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri is back in her capacity as chief creative officer of Fendi. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026 The documentary is currently in development, with additional announcements regarding the creative team, production, distribution and release plans to follow. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for creative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for creative
  1. innovative
  2. imaginative
  3. inventive
  4. clever
  5. talented
Adjective
  • This is why counting AI pilots tells us little about whether an organization is becoming more innovative.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Her work brings together fashion, technology and industrial application, with a particular focus on more responsible and innovative approaches to garment finishing.
    — Alice Tonello, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of innovative
Adjective
  • Bat is entranced by the instruction manual written in many languages, while Snake finds endless imaginative uses for the box itself.
    — Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Still, for every resourceful, imaginative low-budget success, there is a bungled movie that aspires, if not to quality, then at least to financial viability, but instead achieves legendary ineptitude.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of imaginative
Adjective
  • This was a very inventive opening sequence, but the crowd sat quietly through most of it.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Before that comes a vast and dramatically static stretch of what speculative-fiction circles often call ‘world-building’— a full, inventive, elaborately detailed portrait of Andersen’s vision of the next 19 years of American history.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of inventive
Adjective
  • The renovation took two years, and the sisters are still updating and tweaking the villa with new color schemes and clever offerings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Of course, that always creates opportunities for movies to break through and shine, thanks to clever marketing.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of clever
Adjective
  • But with the talented dual-threat QB healthy and a more seasoned Sooners front, the hunch here is that OU will be much improved on offense in 2026.
    — Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • For the longest time, as an ambassador and protector of American motorsports and one of the most talented drivers to ever sit in a stock car, Denny Hamlin didn’t believe in luck.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of talented

Browse Nearby Words

creations
creative
creativeness
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Cite this Entry

“Creative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creative. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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