expressive

adjective

ik-ˈspre-siv How to pronounce expressive (audio)
Definition of expressivenext
as in eloquent
clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) the teacher's expressive sigh showed that she had heard that excuse many times before

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of expressive The season’s biggest trends are comfortable, expressive, and accessible—which is where Amazon comes in. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2026 In 2025, the company released an immobile, expressive desktop robot called Reachy Mini. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026 The actress, 40, was a style icon of the 1990s and 2000s, rocking ‘fits with colors and patterns that were always bold, playful and expressive. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 The color reflects a shift toward using deeper, expressive tones to create comfort and connection at home. — Kate McKenna, The Spruce, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expressive
  1. eloquent
  2. suggestive
  3. revealing
  4. meaningful
  5. meaning
Adjective
  • Not as verbally eloquent as Roosevelt, Eisenhower communicated with a broad smile and a confident demeanor.
    — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Dudamel and the orchestra accompanied the eloquent Lila Downs and much of the evening was then given over to the popular, Grammy-gleaning Los Tigres del Norte.
    — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of eloquent
Adjective
  • At the time, fans were quick to point out that the majority of the crew members seen in the clip were men, while Sweeney was sitting in a suggestive pose.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Messages in 2024 between Johnson and Duffey revealed the two men used suggestive language.
    — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of suggestive
Adjective
  • Taken together, the regulations offer a revealing look at Indian Creek.
    — Luisa Yanez Updated September 3, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The authorship, the self-revealing, the exhibitionism, being so proud.
    — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of revealing
Adjective
  • Developed in partnership with the UK’s national standards body, the British Standards Institution, and mental health charity Chasing the Stigma, the toolkit aims to shift the dial from awareness to meaningful support.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • To many in the LGBTQ+ community, the notion of unconditional love might as well be a fairy tale; meaningful relationships must be worked for, maintained, and protected—and as such, are rarely taken for granted.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of meaningful
Adjective
  • From that point on, Kusama’s absorbing and fresh art, once charged by avant-garde energies, became more or less a meaning-free expression of market principles, an exercise in branding.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Yiaga’s degustation menu is distinctly Australian—meaning, inventive and collaborative.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of meaning

Browse Nearby Words

expressions
expressive
expressiveness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expressive. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on expressive

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about expressive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of hobnob

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All