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
Both are Massachusetts natives who grew up rooting for the Celtics, with Chisholm spending his formative years in Georgetown on the North Shore before attending Dartmouth College.
—
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025
And, in between jokes about pink eye, Grindr dates gone wrong and a pitch perfect takedown of college improv, the series makes a heartfelt case for how to make the best out of those formative years.
—Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
The time Fallon spent with his grandfather was formative.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 14 May 2025
The result is a record which captures Motörhead in their formative period, fresh from the early lineup which recorded the tracks that would later make up 1979’s On Parole album, yet hungry with the ambition that would turn them into one of the U.K.’s biggest heavy exports of the ’70s and ’80s.
—Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025
And, in between jokes about pink eye, Grindr dates gone wrong and a pitch perfect takedown of college improv, the series makes a heartfelt case for how to make the best out of those formative years.
—Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
The time Fallon spent with his grandfather was formative.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 14 May 2025
The result is a record which captures Motörhead in their formative period, fresh from the early lineup which recorded the tracks that would later make up 1979’s On Parole album, yet hungry with the ambition that would turn them into one of the U.K.’s biggest heavy exports of the ’70s and ’80s.
—Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formative
Adjective
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In the next town over, White Stone’s Chesapeake Doughnut Co. also serves Blanchard’s coffee, along with classic and creative doughnut flavors and tasty sandwiches on homemade biscuits or buns made from doughnut dough.—
Simon Davidson,
Travel + Leisure,
25 May 2025
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The 1980 death of vocalist Bon Scott due to alcohol poisoning, coupled with a creative and commercial freefall during the Reagan era, seemingly prepared AC/DC to handle other setbacks.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Advocates of work requirements overlook a plain economic truth: A healthy population is essential to a productive national workforce.—
Toni Preckwinkle,
Chicago Tribune,
21 May 2025
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Growth still plays a role, but adding some stability as retirement nears is a productive strategy in many cases.—
Wes Moss,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Log in Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.—
Sarah Matusek,
Christian Science Monitor,
13 May 2025
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Tech companies need to do more to make these tools genuinely safe and constructive.—
Diana Spehar,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Formative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formative. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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