expressive
adjective
ex·pres·sive
ik-ˈspre-siv 
1
: of or relating to expression
the expressive function of language
2
: serving to express, utter, or represent
foul and novel terms expressive of rage—
H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells3
: effectively conveying meaning or feeling
an expressive silence
expressive line drawings
expressively
adverb
expressiveness
noun
Examples of expressive in a Sentence
the expressive function of language
the teacher's expressive sigh showed that she had heard that excuse many times before
Recent Examples on the Web
In the United States, permission from the subject of a story is typically not required to create expressive works.
—Legal Entertainment, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Fashionably oversized trousers don’t have to be neutral, but instead abstract-printed or in strange muted tones, and super skinny ones buck the (better) trend of the former because good taste bows to expressive statement, here.
—Julian Randall, Essence, 12 Mar. 2025
Holland, with his expressive eyes and sensitive approach to character work, brings some of it to the fore, but there’s only so much a performer can do with thin material.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2025
Bharatanatyam yields both the expressive partnering of Vijna Vasudevan and Renjith Babu (as the wife and her husband) and Mythili Prakash’s power and precision as the mother.
—Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expressive
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Legal Entertainment, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Fashionably oversized trousers don’t have to be neutral, but instead abstract-printed or in strange muted tones, and super skinny ones buck the (better) trend of the former because good taste bows to expressive statement, here.
—Julian Randall, Essence, 12 Mar. 2025
Holland, with his expressive eyes and sensitive approach to character work, brings some of it to the fore, but there’s only so much a performer can do with thin material.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2025
Bharatanatyam yields both the expressive partnering of Vijna Vasudevan and Renjith Babu (as the wife and her husband) and Mythili Prakash’s power and precision as the mother.
—Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expressive
Cite this Entry
“Expressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expressive. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
expressive
adjective
ex·pres·sive
ik-ˈspres-iv
1
: of or relating to expression
2
: serving to express
3
: full of expression
also
: openly expressing one's feelings
an expressive face
expressively
adverb
expressiveness
noun
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