penetrative

adjective

pen·​e·​tra·​tive ˈpe-nə-ˌtrā-tiv How to pronounce penetrative (audio)
1
: tending to penetrate : piercing
2
: acute
penetrative observations
3
: impressive
a penetrative speaker

Examples of penetrative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To tell those stories, democracies would have to invest more in penetrative communications and persuasive content. Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025 Have conversations around non-penetrative, pleasurable activities, including body movement and dancing. Essence, 23 Oct. 2025 The best example of this comes from PSG’s last-16 match against Inter Miami with another penetrative underlapping run from Doue. Mark Carey, New York Times, 7 July 2025 His serve punch isn’t as penetrative and the vagaries of the surface can eat away at those whose first love is the hard courts. Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for penetrative

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of penetrative was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Penetrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penetrative. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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