FORMATIVE Synonyms: 9 Similar and Opposite Words

formative

adjective

ˈfȯr-mə-tiv

Definition of formative

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 The collection explores the band’s formative years through recordings spanning country, folk, punk, reggae, rock and soul, with contributions from Al Kooper, Leon Russell, Jim Gordon and Emory Gordy, among others. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 13 Oct. 2026 Octavius Catto spent his formative years and subsequently launched his career as a public servant in Philadelphia. — Timothy Welbeck, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026 The stoneware dishes, with their childlike design, candy-colored glazes, and divided compartments, might jog formative memories of Montessori sorting trays or vintage TV dinners. — Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026 That’s a big reference for us, just a formative show for the genre. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for formative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for formative

Adjective

The factor that seems to unite everyone is a sense of repetition—no matter the style, writers will play the same songs over and over again to reach a kind of creative trance.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Those of us in the creative world have to embrace all the ups and downs, and the rights and the wrongs.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of creative

Adjective

Not every worthwhile pursuit needs to become productive, profitable, or impressive.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
Guard Gradey Dick, a piece of the offseason trade that sent Leonard back to Toronto, was far more productive with 12 points.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of productive

Adjective

This is what physicists call decoherence—the inability of many waves to show strong constructive interference.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The complaint accuses the defendants of financial elder abuse, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, constructive fraud and conversion.

— Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of constructive

Browse Nearby Words

formations

formative

formats

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Formative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formative. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of formative

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

disparate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes