as in interpretive
serving to explain
a dearth of explicative material to help the layman understand the difficult subject matter
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of explicative
While Clarkson was amazed by her skills, Parton was able to slip in an explicative on daytime television.
—
Vulture, 21 Dec. 2022
Much of the dialogue is obvious and explicative; young Bode sometimes sounds like a middle-aged professor.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2020
There are periodic explicative orations about the state of the nation.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 1 Nov. 2019
Video posted on the Twitter feed of Robin Bell shows the explicative term in question emblazoned across the wall of the hotel, backed by a cascade of poop emojis.
—Michelle Hunter, NOLA.com, 14 Jan. 2018
Vulture, 21 Dec. 2022
Much of the dialogue is obvious and explicative; young Bode sometimes sounds like a middle-aged professor.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2020
There are periodic explicative orations about the state of the nation.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 1 Nov. 2019
Video posted on the Twitter feed of Robin Bell shows the explicative term in question emblazoned across the wall of the hotel, backed by a cascade of poop emojis.
—Michelle Hunter, NOLA.com, 14 Jan. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explicative
Adjective
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Nothing is lost in this interpretive framework except historical truth in its most disarming configurations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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The landmark interpretive center, which opened to the public in 1994, is a hub for education on the Devonian period.—
Leo Bertucci,
Louisville Courier Journal,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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With her powerful voice and hypnotic interpretative quality, Peluso seems tailor-made for this.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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These price ranges are based on internal data and are intended as illustrative estimates only.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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On the one hand, Cantore is illustrative of how Juventus operate in talent identification and development.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The BoE's high-level system-wide explanatory scenario, which is expected to take between nine and 12 months, will engage with a number of private market firms.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
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The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explicative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explicative. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
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