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
Martínez named Crispín after his father, who was, and is, a formative presence for him.
—
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Months of close human contact during the most formative window of his development.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Equally compelling is the discovery of 12-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi, who plays Michael during the Jackson 5’s formative years.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
Despite this, the differences in their younger, formative years uniquely informed each pioneering man's approach to public service.
—CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formative
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Months of close human contact during the most formative window of his development.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Equally compelling is the discovery of 12-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi, who plays Michael during the Jackson 5’s formative years.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
Despite this, the differences in their younger, formative years uniquely informed each pioneering man's approach to public service.
—CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formative
Adjective
-
Maybe the stage in which lucid dreams occur doesn’t involve as many creative leaps.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
-
This year, new creative partner Climate Spring will offer yet another dedicated meeting for each fellow with a Climate Spring development executive to provide development advice and consultation on their script.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Wall Street bankers have been known to lean on Adderall and other stimulants to be more productive, while Silicon Valley executives microdose on ketamine or use psychedelics to be more creative.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Fagnano and Pavia were two of the most productive quarterbacks in the country last season, with the 25-year-old Fagnano racking up the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the country (28 to 1) and being named a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top QB.—
Staff Reports,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Recent announcements and enforcement patterns suggest US regulators are aware of the challenges and are working hard on constructive answers.—
Bob Diamond,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
This commitment to social responsibility, however, has also underpinned several related forms of journalism that have similar values, such as civic or public journalism, peace journalism, advocacy journalism, constructive journalism, and more.—
Karen McIntyre,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Formative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formative. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
