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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Recent Examples of formative
In some of rock ’n’ roll’s most formative years, 1970 to 1975, John released 13 albums, seven of which went platinum.
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Belinda Luscombe, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
The film — which tells a critical tale of Trump's formative early relationships with Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), Ivana Zelníčková (Maria Bakalova), and the cutthroat world of New York City business — earned solid critical reviews, but significantly underperformed at the box office.
—EW.com, 4 Dec. 2024
That’s neither condescension nor criticism: George Lucas created a swashbuckling fairy tale set in space, and its mantle has been taken up by successive generations of filmmakers who encountered it at a formative age.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024
His longevity in the industry is unique for someone like Murray, who started out modeling before being cast in a litany of hunky heartthrob roles on the television shows and movies that have proven to be formative works in the millennial psyche.
—Caroline Thayer, Fox News, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for formative 
Belinda Luscombe, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
The film — which tells a critical tale of Trump's formative early relationships with Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), Ivana Zelníčková (Maria Bakalova), and the cutthroat world of New York City business — earned solid critical reviews, but significantly underperformed at the box office.
—EW.com, 4 Dec. 2024
That’s neither condescension nor criticism: George Lucas created a swashbuckling fairy tale set in space, and its mantle has been taken up by successive generations of filmmakers who encountered it at a formative age.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024
His longevity in the industry is unique for someone like Murray, who started out modeling before being cast in a litany of hunky heartthrob roles on the television shows and movies that have proven to be formative works in the millennial psyche.
—Caroline Thayer, Fox News, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for formative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formative
Adjective
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Sources say the contract of Donatella Versace, chief creative officer of the Italian brand, is up in February.Luisa Zargani, WWD, 26 Dec. 2024
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Barbara Bar at Trixie Motel offers a glimpse into the creative mind of the drag star Trixie Mattel.Freda Moon, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Developing a new productive capacity takes time, so senior executives who have a wait and see attitude may find themselves on the wrong side of an experience curve that will be hard to compete with.John Sviokla, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
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Pedroia’s last productive season came in 2017, when he was limited to 105 games due to left knee soreness thanks in part to the infamous play where Manny Machado spiked him during a close play at second base.Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This year, our Center at NYU Stern launched a multi-stakeholder working group to advance informed and constructive regulation of the industry, which includes companies, regulators, academic experts, and representatives of civil society.Michael Posner, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.Bruce Shipowski, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near formative
Cite this Entry
“Formative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formative. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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