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Synonyms

expansive

American  
[ik-span-siv] / ɪkˈspæn sɪv /

adjective

  1. having a wide range or extent; comprehensive; extensive.

    expansive mountain scenery.

  2. (of a person's character or speech) effusive, unrestrained, free, or open.

    Our expansive host welcomed us warmly.

    Synonyms:
    gushing, gushy, unreserved, genial, outgoing, extroverted, sociable
  3. tending to expand or capable of expanding.

  4. causing expansion.

    the expansive force of heat.

  5. working by expansion, as an engine.

  6. Psychiatry. marked by an abnormal euphoric state and by delusions of grandeur.


expansive British  
/ ɪkˈspænsɪv /

adjective

  1. able or tending to expand or characterized by expansion

  2. wide; extensive

  3. friendly, open, or talkative

    an expansive person

  4. grand or extravagant

    an expansive way of life

  5. psychiatry lacking restraint in the expression of feelings, esp in having delusions of grandeur or being inclined to overvalue oneself or one's work

"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

  • expansively adverb
  • expansiveness noun
  • nonexpansive adjective
  • nonexpansiveness noun
  • overexpansive adjective
  • overexpansiveness noun
  • unexpansive adjective
  • unexpansiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of expansive

First recorded in 1645–55; expans(ion) + -ive

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.

They have only conceded three goals in their past 15 matches and lost once in 19, all while playing the most expansive football in the top flight.

From BBC

This case, which was fast-tracked through the court system as an emergency, slams the door on one such expansive use of presidential authority.

From BBC

The administration does have other laws it can rely on, but those laws have procedural constraints and may not allow tariffs as expansive as the ones the court struck down.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some of the companies interested in bank acquisitions are after charters that would let them run more expansive operations.

From The Wall Street Journal

Northrop Grumman External link CEO Kathy Warden says that her company, which makes communications, missiles, and intelligence assets that operate above the atmosphere, has seen “expansive growth” in space.

From Barron's