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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

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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 Reiter’s character’s brash self-assurance, along with her expressive face and physicality, really complement a deadpan Wickline. — Rima Parikh, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2026 Colorful Frames Colorful frames are having a moment, encouraging a looser, more expressive approach to wall art. — Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026 Through artifacts spanning 5,000 years, the exhibition constructs an extraordinary history of fashion and the body—material, carnal, vulnerable, seductive, devotional, fragmented—and its transpositions into various expressive languages. — Judith Clark, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2026 Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Pleasure could become easier to access once the Moon enters Pisces and your expressive 5th house. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expressive
  1. eloquent
  2. suggestive
  3. revealing
  4. meaningful
  5. meaning
Adjective
  • Fittingly, this is a very American intersection of wealth and power, the exact kind of problem about which James Baldwin was always so eloquent and incisive.
    — James Folta, Literary Hub, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Cinematic lyrical poet Victor Kossakovsky (Architecton, Gunda) offers in Holy Wood Dust another distinctive non-fiction meditation on a theme, a work that’s eloquent even if the author’s message is not always explicitly articulated.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 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
  • And some of the most revealing answers came out of a writing camp in Los Angeles.
    — Crystal Bell, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
  • There is something about the juxtaposition of her demure lace with a more revealing fabrication that feels decidedly fresh.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of revealing
Adjective
  • Otherwise, transfer running backs Juelz Goff or Harry Stewart III could have their first meaningful carries of the season.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Kate saw firsthand how time spent outdoors and a connection with nature can play a meaningful role in supporting wellbeing, particularly for people working towards addiction recovery.
    — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 24 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 2 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on expressive

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about expressive

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