as in interpretive
serving to explain
an expository piece on the workings of the internal-combustion engine
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Recent Examples of expository
The film is obvious in telegraphing its spooky sequences and its expository ones.
—
J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
But the artifacts of the New Literalism seem to embrace mediation, even to double down on it with their supplementary signposts, historical snapshots, and expository tics.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
The first couple episodes begin with ominous cold opens new to the material, tackling the expository scientific explanation for the horrors to come in clever ways.
—A.a. Dowd, Chron, 10 Jan. 2023
Part of that can be attributed to the tendency to tidy up Big Conversations with pat remarks and swift expository dialogue.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for expository
J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
But the artifacts of the New Literalism seem to embrace mediation, even to double down on it with their supplementary signposts, historical snapshots, and expository tics.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
The first couple episodes begin with ominous cold opens new to the material, tackling the expository scientific explanation for the horrors to come in clever ways.
—A.a. Dowd, Chron, 10 Jan. 2023
Part of that can be attributed to the tendency to tidy up Big Conversations with pat remarks and swift expository dialogue.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for expository
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expository
Adjective
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Still, Gu’s interpretive garment may be an early indicator of how Met Gala guests will arrive on the first Monday of May; after all, this year’s theme is Fashion is Art, and some will undoubtedly take direct inspiration from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s vast collection.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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The art world’s interpretive frameworks operate as threshold mechanisms that determine what can surface into visibility and what remains structurally excluded.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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There are various interpretative signs and points of interest along the way, including famous Creek Street and both Ketchikan museums.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
Cite this Entry
“Expository.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expository. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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