Definition of explanativenext
as in interpretive
serving to explain an edition of Melville's novel that could use more explanative footnotes about whaling

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explanative
Adjective
  • Cadet will work with architect Rodney Leon, who is also of Haitian descent, and who will advise on the interpretive writing and symbolic elements of the statue and its lighting and siting.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • One-on-one, face-to-face discussions trigger key interpretive understandings that are authentic to each stakeholder.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The effects of such abstemiousness are less clear, though a pair of new movies point in two very different interpretative directions.
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The nonprofit is dedicated to promoting forest conservation efforts through exhibits, with interpretative trails around the site that venture through lush forest canopies.
    Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • These examples are illustrative of the fact that athletes already take their fertility and menstrual cycles into consideration, Carson says.
    Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The stunning indictment of Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota last week marked another illustrative example of the position’s outsized power, according to one top lawmaker.
    Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • And now, in perhaps the most ridiculous and explanatory example of the league's fandom, has seen her name banned from the WNBA subreddit.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The mods think Reddit might have designated the website—and thus any post using its content for explanatory illustrations—as spam.
    Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Along the way, Robbins spices his story through illuminative moments and mini-biographies.
    OregonLive.com, OregonLive.com, 14 Oct. 2017
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Explanative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explanative. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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