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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Recent Examples of descriptive
There is a reason for the descriptive label of underground cultures and subcultures.
—
Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Another problem in Lee’s view is that Las Vegas Athletics is geographically descriptive.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Jan. 2026
At the time, the standard way of describing chess moves was descriptive notation, says John McCrary, a former president of the United States Chess Federation who maintains a collection of some 100 chess books from before 1900.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2025
But the Grand Canyon rates its rapids up to what’s called a Canyon Class 10, allowing boaters to be more descriptive across the wide variety of whitewater features.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descriptive
Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Another problem in Lee’s view is that Las Vegas Athletics is geographically descriptive.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Jan. 2026
At the time, the standard way of describing chess moves was descriptive notation, says John McCrary, a former president of the United States Chess Federation who maintains a collection of some 100 chess books from before 1900.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2025
But the Grand Canyon rates its rapids up to what’s called a Canyon Class 10, allowing boaters to be more descriptive across the wide variety of whitewater features.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descriptive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descriptive
Adjective
-
The art on the card is by Atsuko Nishida — the graphic artist who designed a number of popular Pokémon, including Pikachu.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These will be the last figure skating medals awarded at the 2026 Games, and all three skaters are realistic contenders for the Olympic podium.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Practicing realistic scenarios beforehand is essential.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Each of the time zones Pascal Soriot operates in has offered vivid reminders of the delicate balancing act global business leaders must perform as the world economy transforms around them.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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As much is clear in the vivid animation, layered jokes, and peculiar fixations — an endearing combination that heightens what could’ve been a forgettable series.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But the characters are expressive, and the medium is used to unreal ends, which is, after all, what cartoons are good for.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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This expressive, effusive soul could finally use skating to effusively express her soul.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The biggest winter storm of the new year loomed over the picturesque mountains, meanwhile, as dire warnings from forecasters echoed on social media.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
One afternoon in 2024, when her session in court had ended unusually early, Gisèle Pelicot went to the Leclerc supermarket in Carpentras, a picturesque town in Provence.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Meanwhile Villaroel has argued that lights in the sky that appeared on pre-space-age photographic plates could indicate artificial objects that were in Earth orbit before the launch of humanity’s first satellites.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
20 Feb. 2026
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To do so, the human worker needs to submit photographic evidence.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While accurate, these systems aren't perfect.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Software stocks plunged in early February following the release of a new tool from Anthropic that tailors its model for work in specific industries like legal and finance.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
During the podcast, Tuinman did not offer any specific details regarding the jailbreaking process.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descriptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descriptive. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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