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
But the Daodejing is more descriptive than prescriptive – less how-to and more what is.
—
Stephen Chen, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
Narrative news stories, conversely, foreground stylistic elements such as character, plot, descriptive detail, and point of view to create an immersive experience designed to elicit emotional responses from audiences.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
Photography is a very descriptive medium.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2026
As a folky slowcore album discussing childhood woes with straightforward but descriptive songwriting, III doesn’t do much to break away from its obvious influences, chief among them Mark Kozelek.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for descriptive
Stephen Chen, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
Narrative news stories, conversely, foreground stylistic elements such as character, plot, descriptive detail, and point of view to create an immersive experience designed to elicit emotional responses from audiences.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
Photography is a very descriptive medium.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2026
As a folky slowcore album discussing childhood woes with straightforward but descriptive songwriting, III doesn’t do much to break away from its obvious influences, chief among them Mark Kozelek.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for descriptive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descriptive
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Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.—
Seth Eli Barlow,
Arkansas Online,
14 Apr. 2026
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Although today’s audiences might be more desensitized to such gruesome scenes thanks to hyperrealistic special effects in modern horror movies, and the commonplace spread of graphic clips online, audiences of the ‘80s were reportedly traumatized and scandalized.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
About 20 international teams with gather at the Swiss Army’s training area, where their robots will be pushed through extreme terrain and realistic military scenarios at one of Europe’s most demanding field trials for unmanned systems.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Apr. 2026
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Caravaggio is best known for dramatic and realistic paintings, often from the Bible, and infused with contrasting light and shadow.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Blueberry pies are among the most beautiful desserts—with a vivid purple hue and sweetly tart flavor, this recipe perfects the coveted summer treat.—
Abby Fribush,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
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Its smart heat-sensing sensors filter out false alerts, while Color Night Vision ensures vivid low-light detail.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In the nineteen-seventies, Franciscan University, a small school on a hill above the downtown, became a center for charismatic Catholicism, an expressive, theologically orthodox movement that paralleled the development of the evangelical Jesus People and secular hippie culture.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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Growing up surrounded by fashion and music also shaped their understanding of beauty as something expressive and, at times, theatrical.—
Brittany Talarico,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Evrima's spa is a must-do thanks to its sprawling relaxation deck perfect for a post-treatment nap or hot tub soak with a fresh juice or champagne in hand—all while the picturesque shoreline goes by (Monaco was in view on my particular visit to the spa deck).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
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Like any well-meaning grifter, Anna (Halle Bailey) seizes the opportunity to hop a flight to picturesque Tuscany after meeting a handsome Italian stranger with an empty villa.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The film also highlights, through such enduring artifacts as cassette recordings and photographic prints, the archival basis of memory itself.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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And, thanks to this photographic equipment, we've been treated to some absolutely stunning Artemis 2 photos.—
Jase Parnell-Brookes,
Space.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And by shopping around for rates and lenders, thus establishing an accurate baseline to compare against, borrowers can better decide on the value of taking action now or delaying their plans for the foreseeable future.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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His contention is that the people who inhabit the paintings are breathing a specific spiritual atmosphere, bred by the company that Vermeer kept.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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The team lost Julie Allemand to Toronto in expansion, creating room in the backcourt but a specific need for a facilitator.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descriptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descriptive. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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