as in creative
having a role in deciding something's final form
a teacher who was a formative influence on generations of students
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Recent Examples of formative
And contemporary language artists such as [Jenny] Holzer, [Edward] Ruscha and [Barbara] Kruger have been formative for me.
—
Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2026
The 1300 block of Division Street and the 1300 block of Druid Hill Avenue — home to Thurgood Marshall’s formative years, the Mitchells’ legal advocacy and the Murphy family’s journalistic leadership — together form Baltimore’s Freedom Square.
—Alvin C. Hathaway Sr, Baltimore Sun, 22 Feb. 2026
Gu spent summers in Beijing, but did most of her formative training in the Lake Tahoe area, and went to school in San Francisco.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 22 Feb. 2026
Classical In much the same way that youngsters might dig their parents’ Beatles records, the pianist and composer Amy Williams had a formative relationship with the music of the minimalist composer Morton Feldman.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formative
Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2026
The 1300 block of Division Street and the 1300 block of Druid Hill Avenue — home to Thurgood Marshall’s formative years, the Mitchells’ legal advocacy and the Murphy family’s journalistic leadership — together form Baltimore’s Freedom Square.
—Alvin C. Hathaway Sr, Baltimore Sun, 22 Feb. 2026
Gu spent summers in Beijing, but did most of her formative training in the Lake Tahoe area, and went to school in San Francisco.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 22 Feb. 2026
Classical In much the same way that youngsters might dig their parents’ Beatles records, the pianist and composer Amy Williams had a formative relationship with the music of the minimalist composer Morton Feldman.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formative
Adjective
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Invite friends to share their recent creative ideas with you to revel in mutual inspiration.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Automakers in China have resorted to creative financing schemes to spur consumer demand.—
Matthew Chin,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The shower's radiant rises in the northeast by late evening and climbs higher through the night, making the hours before dawn the most productive.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Samuel, 30, is one of many ex-49ers who will hit the open market, including several defensive linemen to bolster one of the NFL’s least productive units last season.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But Lawrence only offered constructive criticism.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
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The analyst said the downsizing should increase its earnings power, underpinning a more constructive stance on the name.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Formative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formative. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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