expressive
Americanadjective
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full of expression; meaningful.
an expressive shrug.
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serving to express; indicative of power to express.
a look expressive of gratitude.
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of, relating to, or concerned with expression.
Dance is a highly expressive art.
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Sociology. (of a crowd or group) engaging in nonpurposeful activity of an expressive and often rhythmic nature, as weeping, dancing, or shouting.
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Linguistics. of or relating to forms in which sounds denote a semantic field directly and nonarbitrarily, through sound symbolism based, to some degree, on synesthesia, as observable in onomatopoeia, rhyming and gradational compounds, and emotionally charged words such as hypocoristics and pejoratives.
adjective
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of, involving, or full of expression
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indicative or suggestive (of)
a look expressive of love
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having a particular meaning, feeling, or force; significant
Usage
What are other ways to say expressive?
Expressive gestures are full of meaning; expressive looks effectively convey an attitude or feeling. How is expressive different from synonyms meaningful, significant, and suggestive? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Related Words
See eloquent ( def. ).
Other Word Forms
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antiexpressiveadjective
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antiexpressivelyadverb
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antiexpressivenessnoun
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expressivelyadverb
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expressivenessnoun
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nonexpressiveadjective
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nonexpressivelyadverb
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nonexpressivenessnoun
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overexpressiveadjective
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overexpressivelyadverb
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overexpressivenessnoun
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preexpressiveadjective
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superexpressiveadjective
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superexpressivelyadverb
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superexpressivenessnoun
Etymology
Origin of expressive
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French; see express, -ive
Explanation
Big smiles, loud crying, jumping for joy, and making crazy art are all expressive, which is to effectively show feelings. Anything that communicates thoughts or feelings is expressive. Expressive comes from the French word expres for "clear, plain.” It’s easy to read people who are expressive, their emotions are clear. Smiling, laughing, shouting, crying, and pouting are all expressive. So is art, whether it's music, sculpture, or writing. This is a word that applies to things that communicate. If you're not revealing how you feel, you're not being expressive.
Vocabulary lists containing expressive
Other Words for Home
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Writing - Middle School
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Text Structure
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Expressive cellos reveal the characters’ thoughts, and the horns add an aura of muscularity and honor.
From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2022
The major hub of this academic study is University of California, Santa Cruz, home to students and professors that cluster around its Expressive Intelligence Studio.
From The Verge • Nov. 30, 2021
Expressive and passionate, the Latvian musician's performance of Astor Piazzolla's Libertango brought a packed Royal Albert Hall to its feet.
From BBC • Sep. 11, 2021
Expressive but nonthreatening, authentic but pop-friendly, the Alanis blueprint shaped the next decade of rock—female-fronted and otherwise.
From Slate • May 20, 2021
From cradle's murky bosom faring, He winketh through a crystal dress, The rose of close alliance bearing, Expressive in its ruddiness.
From Henry of Ofterdingen: A Romance. by Hardenberg, Friedrich von
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
