Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

impressive

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of impressive

having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies

  • an impressive play about a loving family attempting to lift themselves out of poverty
Synonyms of impressive

affecting, emotional, impactful, moving, poignant, stirring, touching
Words Related to impressive

eloquent, expressive, meaningful, significant

demonstrative, excitable, feeling, passionate, responsive, sensitive

exciting, inspirational, provoking, rousing, stimulating

dramatic, histrionic, melodramatic, theatrical (also theatric)

cathartic
Near Antonyms of impressive

cold, cool, detached, dispassionate, emotionless

deadpan
Antonyms of impressive

unaffecting, unemotional, unimpressive

Synonym Discussion of impressive

moving, impressive, poignant, affecting, touching, pathetic mean having the power to produce deep emotion. moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.
    • a moving appeal for contributions
impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.
    • an impressive list of achievements
poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.
    • a poignant documentary on the homeless
affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.
    • an affecting deathbed reunion
touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.
    • the touching innocence in a child's eyes
pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.
    • pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Learn More about impressive

  1. See words that rhyme with impressive Dictionary: Definition of impressive Spanish Central: Translation of impressive Nglish: Translation of impressive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of impressive for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up impressive? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

panoply

a magnificent or impressive array

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. Spartan Red Cross Warns of Shelter Conditions

  2. hirsute RIP Burt Reynolds

  3. op-ed NYT Publishes Anonymous Piece

  4. collegiality Kavanaugh Mentions Word in Hearing

  5. mistrial Manafort Guilty on 8 Counts

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games