as in creative
having a role in deciding something's final form
a teacher who was a formative influence on generations of students
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formative
For Christine’s and my generation in particular, the experience of having gone through the AIDS epidemic and the AIDS crisis was very formative.
—
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Feb. 2025
Further research can help untangle the complex relationship between external stressors, media consumption and youth well-being, shedding light on how to best support adolescents during this formative stage of life.
—Yalda T. Uhls, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025
All the places where my formative memories happened are gone.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 27 Jan. 2025
Almost every comic who came after Radner—and certainly the ones who wound up on Saturday Night Live—counts her as a formative influence.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Feb. 2025
Further research can help untangle the complex relationship between external stressors, media consumption and youth well-being, shedding light on how to best support adolescents during this formative stage of life.
—Yalda T. Uhls, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025
All the places where my formative memories happened are gone.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 27 Jan. 2025
Almost every comic who came after Radner—and certainly the ones who wound up on Saturday Night Live—counts her as a formative influence.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formative
Adjective
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His deal to star and executive produce just closed, and, with him on board and based on the creative, CBS made the decision to order Boston Blue series for the 2025-2026 broadcast season.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2025
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But the period comedy, which premieres in competition tonight at the festival, assumes the perspective of Lorenz Hart, the great American lyricist who was one half of Rodgers and Hart before a creative split.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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What’s left is a group of productive and overlooked players who seem to be peaking at the right time.—
Eric Wong,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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Despite the heated back-and-forth, Ward said she wouldn't be opposed to returning to the podcast to discuss everything in a productive manner.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
Fox News,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Ask interesting questions, have a bit of a backbone and be ready to listen to constructive thoughts’, Heath explains.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
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Perhaps even encourage your Democratic members of Congress to make constructive suggestions rather than opposing everything.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Formative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formative. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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