descriptive

adjective

Definition of descriptivenext
as in graphic
having many features or details He told a descriptive story about his trip to Spain that captured our attention. An overly descriptive account of the movie that left little to the imagination.

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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 descriptive Where less descriptive studies exist nationally, the effects of voucher programs through school choice vary by program design, student subgroups and local context. — Kendall Deas, The Conversation, 6 July 2026 Marcus Lee, an African American Studies professor at Princeton University, often tells his students that descriptive representation differs from substantive representation. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 16 June 2026 Kareem Dale, Obama’s special assistant for disability policy during his tenure, will narrate the audio descriptive tour for the center. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026 Modern magazine journalism generally combines factual reporting with narrative storytelling techniques, including scene-setting, descriptive detail, and literary-style writing. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for descriptive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descriptive
  1. graphic
  2. realistic
  3. vivid
  4. expressive
  5. picturesque
  6. photographic
  7. accurate
  8. specific
Adjective
  • Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
    — Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 7 July 2026
  • The cameras were allowed, but the judge prevented them from capturing some of the graphic footage that was played in court.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of graphic
Adjective
  • The speculative boom has faded, estimates have become more realistic, and collectors who once competed aggressively for rare Burgundy and Bordeaux wines are taking their time.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026
  • This effort started with a partnership with Getty Images, meant to introduce more realistic portrayals of people in rural America to stock photography used across the internet every day.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 8 July 2026
Definition of realistic
Adjective
  • This past weekend offered a vivid reminder of that purpose and our mission in motion.
    — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 9 July 2026
  • Color, particularly the vivid hues of local birds and flowers as well as the more muted tones of sand and rock, was as important to her as material, with layering also playing a part in both her sculptures and her works on paper.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 9 July 2026
Definition of vivid
Adjective
  • Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse, known for her expressive vocals, died at age 27 from alcohol poisoning.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • His long white oval scleras and perfect-circle black pupils, sometimes open and sometimes closed, are always inexplicably expressive—managing to seem happy, sad, scared, sleepy, shifty, angry, eager, alarmed, mischievous, or murderous.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 7 July 2026
Definition of expressive
Adjective
  • With food, festivals, shopping and nearby beaches, there was no better place for a cool summer celebration than in this picturesque town.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Naturally, each woman brings her own baggage — both literally and figuratively — to the picturesque Massachusetts island.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 11 July 2026
Definition of picturesque
Adjective
  • Burgum was asked and did not answer directly whether there was photographic evidence of vandals cutting the pool’s liner.
    — Steve Peoples, Fortune, 5 July 2026
  • Hailing from Taiwan, Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Macau, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the exhibition uses captivating photographic art to guide us into memories preserved within the images.
    — PhotoVogue, Vogue, 2 July 2026
Definition of photographic
Adjective
  • Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
    — Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • ISPs would be well within their rights to advertise accurate monthly prices and charge those exact prices on monthly bills.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
Definition of accurate
Adjective
  • Follow the specific directions from your doctor and the exact type of medicine, first and foremost.
    — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Multiple readers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and 11Alive viewers have reached out to me with this specific concern.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of specific

Browse Nearby Words

descriptions
descriptive
descry
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Cite this Entry

“Descriptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descriptive. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of descriptive for Spanish Speakers

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