ELECTIVE Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

elective 1 of 2

adjective

i-ˈlek-tiv

Definition of elective

as in optional

subject to one's freedom of choice a plastic surgeon who mainly does face-lifting and other kinds of elective surgery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

elective

2 of 2

noun

as in refresher

Related Words

as in option

Related Words

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 elective

Adjective

One 2024 survey of large-company employee benefit plans found that about 21% covered elective egg freezing. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026 Interested students could pursue an optional curriculum track or elective concentration in osteopathic principles, available at any accredited school rather than confined to a parallel one. — Abigail MacKenzie, STAT, 5 Aug. 2026

Noun

In that reunion outside the hospital, Robby shows interest in whether or not Mohan had any luck picking an elective. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026 The district already offered personal finance as an elective before the statewide requirement went into effect. — P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elective

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elective

Adjective

The optional app usually picks appealing but innocuous images of travel scenes and animals as daily wallpapers on Windows PC desktops.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Case codes to justify a search, previously optional, will be mandatory, and the audit log will be upgraded so that Flock can detect abnormal search patterns and block those users.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of optional

Noun

Holopirek has added fruity energy drinks and refreshers to the menu.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
As Coca-Cola works to automate dirty soda and refreshers, CNBC's Amelia Lucas takes readers inside the secretive labs where the soda maker is planning its next wave of innovation.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of refresher

Adjective

Colonizers call it voluntary emigration, but there is nothing voluntary about fleeing after your home has been bombed, your fields poisoned, your water cut off and your child buried.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
The News More than two dozen organizations from both the left and right are urging the White House to publicly release its voluntary AI security framework, per a letter shared first with Semafor.

— Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of voluntary

Noun

The courses must be broad enough to count as introductory surveys— no special topics or advanced studies may qualify—and restrictions govern who can craft and run them.

— Mark Bauerlein, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
Their findings suggest that itPBM may have a neuroprotective effect or modify the course of disease, according to the group.

— Mirin Fader, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of course

Noun

While his hit-and-run is investigated as a hate crime, the narrator, who is teaching a seminar on autofiction, is more focused on his entanglement with his colleague, Lucie.

— Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
The four applicants will attend online sessions, tailored mentorship through specialist seminars and workshops, and in-person intensives in London.

— Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of seminar

Noun

Luxe Paws won’t organize a trapping until available low-cost spay/neuter slots are lined-up at a clinic — and there are 25 such slots up for grabs the next morning at Simi Valley Non-Profit Spay and Neuter Clinic.

— Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
There's a Delfy Kids Club and, in the holiday season, complimentary activities including windsurfing, kayaking, tennis, and sports clinics during high summer that offer instruction from the master for a range of distractions from chess to fencing.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of clinic

Noun

Inside the closed cockpits of WEC’s two classes of sports car, the difference may be academic.

— Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Arkansas Department of Education spokeswoman Kaelin Clay said last month that the Wittes owed the department $5,650 in Educational Freedom Account money for two summer classes Nova Roots did not provide.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of class

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elections

elective

electively

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Style

“Elective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elective. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of elective

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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