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Synonyms

communicative

American  
[kuh-myoo-ni-kay-tiv, -kuh-tiv] / kəˈmju nɪˌkeɪ tɪv, -kə tɪv /
Also communicatory

adjective

  1. inclined to communicate or impart; talkative.

    He isn't feeling very communicative today.

    Synonyms:
    expansive, voluble, loquacious, free-spoken
  2. of or relating to communication.


communicative British  
/ kəˈmjuːnɪkətɪv /

adjective

  1. inclined or able to communicate readily; talkative

  2. of or relating to communication

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of communicative

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin commūnicātīvus, from commūnicāt(us) “imparted” (past participle of commūnicāre “to impart, make common”; see communicate) + -īvus -ive


Explanation

To be communicative is to have the ability to communicate — to exchange thoughts and ideas. Couples often go to counseling to learn to be more communicative. It's easy to see the verb communicate in the adjective communicative: a communicative person is one who can communicate easily. Being communicative is one of the qualities we most value in other people. There's nothing more frustrating than a person who's not communicative, because you can't talk to them. I'm surprised when others are surprised at how communicative my dog is. Aren't all dogs good at talking to their owners?

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Vocabulary lists containing communicative

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.

See Examples For:

It sounds freaky when you read about how the OpenAI hacker agents all “talked” to one another on special forums—but all software, generative or not, is communicative by nature.

From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026

"Someone more flexible, more communicative, and more appealing to society -- but such a person does not seem to exist."

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

In a report published on Tuesday, the government cited its curfew trials as seeing the most sleep benefits, as well as more engaging and communicative family evenings, and a less burdensome set-up for parents.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

It points scientists toward the underlying cognitive and communicative forces that shape human language.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 5, 2026

Frodo did not prove very communicative, and he soon found himself sitting alone in a corner, listening and looking around.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

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