as in supportive
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something
no dearth of probative evidence for the theory of evolution
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Recent Examples of probative
Perhaps there is no more probative example of this when the current president would not rule out using American military force to take Greenland and/or the Panama Canal.
—
Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2025
Weinstein's lawyers argued before the trial that use of such testimony is more prejudicial than probative, but the judge who presided over the trial decided to allow it following a secret hearing.
—Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 2 June 2022
If the emails are probative, the jury should see them.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 14 May 2022
Her recent albums have been even more probative.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2021
Fulbright shepherded the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution through the Senate in 1964, but two years later, his probative hearings helped shift public opinion against the war.
—James Goldgeier, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2018
Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2025
Weinstein's lawyers argued before the trial that use of such testimony is more prejudicial than probative, but the judge who presided over the trial decided to allow it following a secret hearing.
—Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 2 June 2022
If the emails are probative, the jury should see them.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 14 May 2022
Her recent albums have been even more probative.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2021
Fulbright shepherded the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution through the Senate in 1964, but two years later, his probative hearings helped shift public opinion against the war.
—James Goldgeier, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for probative
Adjective
-
Her boyfriend was initially supportive and encouraged her to enjoy the evening, but after asking for a photo of her clothes, his tone shifted.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
It’s forged in small rituals, honest boundaries, supportive villages, and the grace to accept what can’t be controlled.—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Sure, that was exacerbated, and to some degree directly caused, by the ample non-supporting cast around him, especially on the offensive line.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Probative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probative. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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