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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
  • The mission is part of a broader effort led by USSF to leverage the United States’ innovative commercial space industry to improve the service’s ability to respond to security challenges.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • As a result, the company has developed innovative techniques around drill motors, bit designs — the company uses a polycrystalline diamond compact drill bit — and drilling fluids.
    — Pippa Stevens, CNBC, 5 Sep. 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
  • Texas barbecue is typically defined by salt-and-pepper brisket and pork ribs, but this new crop of halal pitmasters is adding inventive twists, often based on their own family heritages.
    — Ulaa Kuziez, NPR, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The wine list is extensive but it sometimes gets shown up by the fresh, inventive cocktails, with a few crafted by the chef’s wife, Diane Mina.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Creative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creative. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of stigma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All