as in interpretative
serving to explain
the explanatory section has as its heading "What the New Tax Changes Mean"
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Recent Examples of explanatory
Longhorns insider David Eckert won in the explanatory category for a story about how climate change affects early-season football games.
—
Sports Editor, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 2026
His films eschew traditional documentary techniques such as explanatory voice-over and talking-head interviews, and his presence isn’t acknowledged by on-camera subjects.
—Vikram Murthi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy.
—Adriana Morga, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
Shaffer succeeds in this regard, but the wordy play grows cumbersome in its final explanatory stages.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explanatory
Sports Editor, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 2026
His films eschew traditional documentary techniques such as explanatory voice-over and talking-head interviews, and his presence isn’t acknowledged by on-camera subjects.
—Vikram Murthi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy.
—Adriana Morga, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
Shaffer succeeds in this regard, but the wordy play grows cumbersome in its final explanatory stages.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explanatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explanatory
Adjective
-
Emmie’s condition is an interpretative riddle for both her parents and the reader.—
Giles Harvey,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Will the academy troll Chalamet (and the rest of us) with an interpretative dance performance?—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Ditto Dor, a former ballerina who pitches her character’s upwardly mobile striver somewhere between sultry slapstick and interpretive dance.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Mar. 2026
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If hired, interpretive rangers may be required to live in government quarters, wear a uniform, and be available to work on-call, including weekends and holidays, and to work overtime.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Its home screen’s hourly forecast consists of temperatures, weather icons, and illustrative background visuals, such as gloomy rain clouds, that sometimes fail to match the view out the window.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Polished concrete floors, plaster walls, steel fixtures, and simple wood elements are frequently leveraged to create the restrained, monochromatic palette that is so illustrative of Brutalism.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explanatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explanatory. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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