as in creative
having a role in deciding something's final form
a teacher who was a formative influence on generations of students
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 formative
Cift notes the pop-culture memorabilia market remains in its formative era.
—
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Garcia’s formative influences and experiences Garcia spent several formative years in Manchester, training alongside David Silva, one of the best Spaniards to ever play in the Premier League.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025
Born during the Great Depression to cotton farmers outside of Meadow, Texas, Curtis was a childhood friend of Buddy Holly’s and an active musician in the formative years of rock, whether jamming on guitar with Holly in the mid-1950s or opening for Elvis Presley when Elvis was still a regional act.
—Hillel Italie, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
Shame, especially when experienced in our formative years, has a tendency to linger.
—Abdi Nazemian, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Garcia’s formative influences and experiences Garcia spent several formative years in Manchester, training alongside David Silva, one of the best Spaniards to ever play in the Premier League.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025
Born during the Great Depression to cotton farmers outside of Meadow, Texas, Curtis was a childhood friend of Buddy Holly’s and an active musician in the formative years of rock, whether jamming on guitar with Holly in the mid-1950s or opening for Elvis Presley when Elvis was still a regional act.
—Hillel Italie, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
Shame, especially when experienced in our formative years, has a tendency to linger.
—Abdi Nazemian, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formative
Adjective
-
No one has to come up with something new and creative.—
Beth Warren,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Events such as València Cuina Oberta and FESTIN give travelers the chance to experience the city’s dining scene at its most creative.—
Visit València,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And all the reports about why the visit might not have been as productive as everyone hoped point to one thing in particular.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
2 Oct. 2025
-
It's said that completing your tasks in the 1-3-5 structure is the key to most people's successful and productive days.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
To foster constructive disagreements, organizations should encourage individuals to modify their observable behaviors during conflicts.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
2 Oct. 2025
-
These debates serve as models for constructive dialogue.—
Ron Barrett,
The Conversation,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Formative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formative. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share