as in traditional
based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation
even in this age of e-mail the prescriptive response to a wedding gift is a handwritten thank-you note
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Recent Examples of prescriptive
None are resolved in a prescriptive way.
—
Judy Berman, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
Last year’s veto set the stage for a different approach – convene experts, listen to companies and civil society, and try again with something less prescriptive.
—The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
Workout Buddy is intentionally less prescriptive than the Running Coach on the latest Galaxy Watches.
—PC Magazine, 16 Sep. 2025
For the first time, a prescriptive hearing aid device made people envious.
—Bill Schiffmiller, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prescriptive
Judy Berman, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
Last year’s veto set the stage for a different approach – convene experts, listen to companies and civil society, and try again with something less prescriptive.
—The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
Workout Buddy is intentionally less prescriptive than the Running Coach on the latest Galaxy Watches.
—PC Magazine, 16 Sep. 2025
For the first time, a prescriptive hearing aid device made people envious.
—Bill Schiffmiller, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prescriptive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prescriptive
Adjective
-
Current challenges Building Electric Road Systems (ERS) is significantly more expensive than traditional highway construction.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Some suggest this is because climate change is interfering with the flowering and pollination of some of the animals’ traditional sources of food.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Having waded through the elaborate setup and established the stakes with his customary jazzy energy and sharp visuals, Wright then slips into an episodic rut.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
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Coaches between the two teams agreed that, instead of a customary five-minute break between the two halves of extra time, both teams would switch halves and resume play almost immediately.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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That sentiment, while proclaimed in jest, captures a current appetite among many celebrities and fans alike to break away from conventional interviews in favor of more authentic and flavorful content.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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Reports claimed that the KSOT is designed to provide a fast, efficient and effective solution to strengthen the Indonesia’s maritime combat capabilities, while complementing its existing fleet of conventional submarines.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prescriptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prescriptive. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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