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 All the trappings of rage—the non-descriptive mentions of drug intake, the unspecified sadness, the shock-rock innuendos—are unshakeable. — Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026 Many descriptive phrases recur no matter who is speaking, which makes the author’s prose feel like a fire hose aimed at the reader. — Carolyn Kellogg, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 That descriptive layer of metadata is what makes any record findable and safe to use. — Michael Leone, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 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 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
  • Shakur’s family in the court gallery had been advised ahead of time that the graphic visuals were going to be shown and described.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Fin wore a black graphic T-shirt, light blue denim Bermuda shorts, striped socks, tennis shoes, and a baseball cap.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of graphic
Adjective
  • Set one home priority, update the necessary people, and let a realistic plan protect both your comfort and your progress.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Rivers might have struggled with the position during his rookie camp, but a year in the league, adjusting to the speed of the NFL, makes taking advantage of this opportunity more realistic.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of realistic
Adjective
  • Astonishingly vivid images blazed forth onto the theater’s giant screen.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • His shop sits next door to the Little Haiti cultural complex, designed like a turn-of-the-century Haitian gingerbread house painted in vivid Caribbean yellow and teal.
    — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of vivid
Adjective
  • Perhaps this is why so much contemporary design feels more bloviating than expressive, as though visual volume now matters more than beauty.
    — Debbie Millman, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Her dark, expressive eyebrows and the deep timbre of her voice stand in entertaining contrast to the bounding energy of her husband, who is urgently sociable.
    — Gaby Wood, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of expressive
Adjective
  • Review There are sprawling meadows made for picnicking, walking trails that snake through dense forests, and a picturesque lake.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
  • After a weekend of carnage, as well as some exciting racing, this small, picturesque seaside town in northeastern Germany, which not many around the world will have heard of, was put on the sailing map.
    — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of picturesque
Adjective
  • There is not one photographic angle that does the buck justice.
    — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Centuries later, the same principle contributed to the development of photographic cameras, cinema equipment, and optical instruments.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of photographic
Adjective
  • The results suggest that young people aren’t having conversations about AI literacy — including how to stay safe, how artificial intelligence works and how to figure out whether chatbots are accurate, study coauthor Michael Robb said.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Simpson executed the plays called, made good decisions and was accurate.
    — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of accurate
Adjective
  • In the comics, a Lantern’s ring has several powers in the ballpark of creating physical objects out of light and pure will, but none of them to date — save for John, in one specific story — have been able to store someone’s consciousness.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
  • While Comer didn’t give a specific location where the breakdown occurred, daytime temperatures in the South China Sea in late July averaged between 89 degrees and 98 degrees Fahrenheit (32 to 37 Celsius), weather records show.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 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 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of descriptive for Spanish Speakers

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