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
-
Jonathan plays piano with unusual introspection and carries an interpretive voice that balances clarity, tenderness, and conviction.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
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Spotting a moose or a pack of wolves on a carcass, for instance, helps resource management teams track animal activity and allows interpretive rangers to point other visitors toward memorable experiences.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Fleming’s sets feel like an interpretative dance-heavy trip through one person’s notes app list of intrusive thoughts.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2026
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Every adaptation is its own interpretative argument, including this one, and its success depends on how well the production makes that argument.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Polished concrete floors, plaster walls, steel fixtures, and simple wood elements are frequently leveraged to create the restrained, monochromatic palette that is so illustrative of Brutalism.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
2 Mar. 2026
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In broader terms, the summer of 2023 is quite illustrative.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
As the ceremony went on, his material focused on mocking things that undermine respect for the movies with bits about ads interrupting streaming movies, vertical video, and overly explanatory movie dialogue.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
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The Associated Press receives support from the Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explicative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explicative. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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