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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formative
Parents and all adults have a responsibility to protect children in their formative years from destructive influences of all types.
—
Opinion Staff, Oc Register, 27 May 2025
Jelly, whose real name is Jason Deford, was born in Nashville and spent his formative years there.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 3 June 2025
His style philosophy today remains thoroughly shaped by these formative years., representing the spiritual traditions of the Japanese people while simultaneously interpreting Western culture.
—Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 28 May 2025
No amount of classroom learning, reading or podcast listening can replace the formative experience of confronting a clinical puzzle in a patient who has entrusted you with their care.
—Eric Snoey, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Opinion Staff, Oc Register, 27 May 2025
Jelly, whose real name is Jason Deford, was born in Nashville and spent his formative years there.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 3 June 2025
His style philosophy today remains thoroughly shaped by these formative years., representing the spiritual traditions of the Japanese people while simultaneously interpreting Western culture.
—Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 28 May 2025
No amount of classroom learning, reading or podcast listening can replace the formative experience of confronting a clinical puzzle in a patient who has entrusted you with their care.
—Eric Snoey, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formative
Adjective
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The result was a team that successfully blocked the hosts almost all of the match but also failed to be creative and aggressive in offense, a flaw also under Ancelotti’s predecessors.—
Mauricio Savarese,
Baltimore Sun,
6 June 2025
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Sanlorenzo Arts–a creative hub dedicated to the artistic and cultural initiatives of luxury yacht pioneers Sanlorenzo–has been unveiled in Venice during the inaugural Venice Climate Week (3-8 June, 2025), as the lagoon city presents la Biennale di Architettura.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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This is exactly the productive, surly, still-in-his-prime player this team needs down the middle.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
14 June 2025
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Since the start of June, the Padres offense has been one of baseball’s least productive units.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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Perhaps there was a constructive thought behind the conscious decision to mute clubhouse reminders of that decade-old dynastic run.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
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He was fired from the Fayetteville job after less than a year because of subpar performance and failure to accept constructive criticism, according to KHBS/KHOG.—
Jorge L. Ortiz,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Formative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formative. Accessed 21 Jun. 2025.
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