expressive
full of expression; meaningful: an expressive shrug.
serving to express; indicative of power to express: a look expressive of gratitude.
of, relating to, or concerned with expression: Dance is a highly expressive art.
Sociology. (of a crowd or group) engaging in nonpurposeful activity of an expressive and often rhythmic nature, as weeping, dancing, or shouting.: Compare active (def. 15), orgiastic (def. 3).
Linguistics. of or relating to forms in which sounds denote a semantic field directly and nonarbitrarily, through sound symbolism based, to some degree, on synesthesia, as observable in onomatopoeia, rhyming and gradational compounds, and emotionally charged words such as hypocoristics and pejoratives.
Origin of expressive
1synonym study For expressive
Other words from expressive
- ex·pres·sive·ly, adverb
- ex·pres·sive·ness, noun
- an·ti·ex·pres·sive, adjective
- an·ti·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverb
- an·ti·ex·pres·sive·ness, noun
- non·ex·pres·sive, adjective
- non·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverb
- non·ex·pres·sive·ness, noun
- o·ver·ex·pres·sive, adjective
- o·ver·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverb
- o·ver·ex·pres·sive·ness, noun
- pre·ex·pres·sive, adjective
- su·per·ex·pres·sive, adjective
- su·per·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverb
- su·per·ex·pres·sive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use expressive in a sentence
Relatively misshapen and formless, the dorsal figure is perhaps even more expressive of physical torment.
The Shroud of Turin and Thomas de Wesselow’s ‘The Sign.’ | Thomas de Wesselow | April 3, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTIn this more expressive exhibition, visitors can now view video from the inaugural balls showing the new first couple dancing.
Smithsonian’s First Ladies Collection Offers More Intimate Look at History | Robin Givhan | November 18, 2011 | THE DAILY BEASTWords failed him, but the tearful gaze of the honest eyes was far more expressive of his gratitude than the most eloquent speech.
A Dreadful Temptation | Mrs. Alex. McVeigh MillerThe perfect seems at first sight out of place, but it is more expressive than the aorist.
Expositor's Bible: The Second Epistle to the Corinthians | James DenneyIt is far more expressive and informing than the average stone or bone implement.
The New Stone Age in Northern Europe | John M. Tyler
I shall always use this word “Veil” to signify the even portion of a wall, it being more expressive than the term Body.
The Stones of Venice, Volume I (of 3) | John RuskinIt is shared to some extent by the lower classes; but their mouths tend to be wider and more expressive.
Letters from America | Rupert Brooke
British Dictionary definitions for expressive
/ (ɪkˈsprɛsɪv) /
of, involving, or full of expression
(postpositive foll by of) indicative or suggestive (of): a look expressive of love
having a particular meaning, feeling, or force; significant
Derived forms of expressive
- expressively, adverb
- expressiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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