inventive

adjective

in·​ven·​tive in-ˈven-tiv 

1

: adept or prolific at producing inventions : creative

an inventive mind

2

: characterized by invention

an inventive method

inventively adverb

inventiveness noun

Synonyms of inventive

• innovative
• imaginative
• creative
• clever

Examples of inventive in a Sentence

They have given their new company an inventive name.

inventive ways to use leftovers

Recent Examples on the Web

Ward started posting fit checks a year ago at the suggestion of his Gen Z daughter Priscilla, who tagged along with him to work one day and was impressed with his inventive classroom style at the Live Oak Middle School classroom in Chico, Calif. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 June 2026

Chef Raz Shabtai’s Mutra was recognized for its inventive cuisine and immersive chef’s counter experience. —Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2026

These movies now add up to a canon greater than the sum of their boisterously funny, deliriously inventive parts. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 June 2026

Norway’s options are now abundant, and often adroit and inventive, too. —Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inventive

• agentive
• attentive
• incentive
• preventive
• retentive
• disincentive
• inattentive

Kids Definition

inventive

adjective

in·​ven·​tive in-ˈvent-iv 

: gifted with the skill and imagination to invent

inventively adverb

inventiveness noun