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
Sturdivant spent some of his formative years in Overland Park, Kan., living across a creek from the home of former Gators quarterback Graham Mertz.
—
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2025
The move was formative, if not particularly lucrative.
—Ryan Ermey
mickey Todiwala, CNBC, 8 Aug. 2025
No taste is more indicative of my formative years than the cheesy, meaty crunch of a Crispito.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2025
Becoming a man, especially for our two characters at the formative years of 17 and 18 years old.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2025
The move was formative, if not particularly lucrative.
—Ryan Ermey
mickey Todiwala, CNBC, 8 Aug. 2025
No taste is more indicative of my formative years than the cheesy, meaty crunch of a Crispito.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2025
Becoming a man, especially for our two characters at the formative years of 17 and 18 years old.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formative
Adjective
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As for the project’s quick turnaround amid her ongoing Short n’ Sweet Tour, Carpenter simply chose to follow her creative instincts while ignoring typical music industry guidance to space out albums with at least a few years.—
Chris Malone Méndez,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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The poet Allen Grossman (MacArthur Fellow, author of the moving collection, The Bright Nails Scattered on the Ground: Love Poems, among at least twenty or so other books) lectured and wrote about creative impulses and sources.—
Douglas Unger
August 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And that’s exactly what happened after a late-June trade sent Jonnu Smith, the most productive tight end in Dolphins history, to the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving Miami’s position group in flux.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
25 Aug. 2025
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Making the most of such an arrangement requires an intentional approach focused on building strong, productive working relationships.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The former general further called on the public to express their aspirations in a peaceful and constructive manner, and promised their voices will be heard.—
Niniek Karmini,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
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While the first half of 2025 was marked by softer spot and freight rates amid macroeconomic headwinds, the outlook for the second half appears more constructive, with flows stabilizing and trade patterns normalizing.—
Ankita Dhawan,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Formative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formative. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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