abortive
adjective
abor·tive
ə-ˈbȯr-tiv 
1
obsolete
: prematurely born
2
3
: imperfectly formed or developed
4
: tending to cut short
abortively
adverb
abortiveness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of abortive in a Sentence
an abortive attempt to recover the sunken pirate ship
Recent Examples on the Web
The abortive investigation was overseen by Ralph Barrington, the head of the Criminal Investigation Department at the Essex Police.
—
Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024
The novel’s denouement finds Lucy planning to stay on the farm to raise her child and David, humbled by an abortive attempt to return to Cape Town, working in the animal shelter near her property.
—Lauren Leblanc, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2024
The people with transient and abortive responses developed a quick immune response—built up within about one day—inside their noses.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 June 2024
The Failure of Union: Central America, 1824-1960 A study of the abortive efforts by Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to form some type of larger federal union.
—Henry L. Roberts, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for abortive 
Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024
The novel’s denouement finds Lucy planning to stay on the farm to raise her child and David, humbled by an abortive attempt to return to Cape Town, working in the animal shelter near her property.
—Lauren Leblanc, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2024
The people with transient and abortive responses developed a quick immune response—built up within about one day—inside their noses.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 June 2024
The Failure of Union: Central America, 1824-1960 A study of the abortive efforts by Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to form some type of larger federal union.
—Henry L. Roberts, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for abortive
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abortive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near abortive
Cite this Entry
“Abortive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abortive. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
abortive
adjective
abor·tive
ə-ˈbȯrt-iv
1
: unsuccessful in achieving the desired conclusion or result
an abortive escape attempt
2
: imperfectly formed or developed : rudimentary
abortively
adverb
abortiveness
noun
Medical Definition
abortive
adjective
abor·tive
ə-ˈbȯrt-iv
1
: imperfectly formed or developed : rudimentary
2
a
b
: cutting short
abortive treatment of pneumonia
c
: failing to develop completely or typically
an abortive case of poliomyelitis
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