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explanative

adjective

ik-ˈspla-nə-tiv How to pronounce explanative (audio)
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
  1. interpretive
  2. interpretative
  3. illustrative
  4. explanatory
  5. illuminative
Adjective
  • Not in some ambiguous, interpretive way—but with your actual eyes.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • There are five switchback landings with interpretive displays, benches and new ways to view the river and the falls.
    — Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of interpretive
Adjective
  • Another way this plays out in the book is in my analysis of how re-translators often echo or follow one another, rather than looking afresh at the interpretative possibilities of the originals.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of interpretative
Adjective
  • The relationship between the two is certainly not illustrative.
    — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The ongoing debate about whether the measure would include data centers, Owen said, is illustrative of a broader issue with its language.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of illustrative
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
Definition of explanatory
Adjective
  • Along the way, Robbins spices his story through illuminative moments and mini-biographies.
    — OregonLive.com, OregonLive.com, 14 Oct. 2017
Definition of illuminative
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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explanative
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Cite this Entry

“Explanative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explanative. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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