expressive
Americanadjective
-
full of expression; meaningful.
an expressive shrug.
-
serving to express; indicative of power to express.
a look expressive of gratitude.
-
of, relating to, or concerned with expression.
Dance is a highly expressive art.
-
Sociology. (of a crowd or group) engaging in nonpurposeful activity of an expressive and often rhythmic nature, as weeping, dancing, or shouting.
-
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
-
of, involving, or full of expression
-
indicative or suggestive (of)
a look expressive of love
-
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.
Synonym Usage
See eloquent ( def. ).
Other Word Forms
-
antiexpressiveadjective
-
antiexpressivelyadverb
-
antiexpressivenessnoun
-
expressivelyadverb
-
expressivenessnoun
-
nonexpressiveadjective
-
nonexpressivelyadverb
-
nonexpressivenessnoun
-
overexpressiveadjective
-
overexpressivelyadverb
-
overexpressivenessnoun
-
preexpressiveadjective
-
superexpressiveadjective
-
superexpressivelyadverb
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Writing - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Text Structure
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
It’s an expressive, furry, doe-eyed creature with huge paws and a dog-like demeanor.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026
They praised the "emotional depth" of Freije's work, highlighting its "unique sculptural vocabulary of materials and forms, as well as the haunting and expressive way she transformed the space through her arrangement of figures".
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
The conductor is petite with large, expressive eyes and a Cheshire cat’s smile.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026
"This triumph is a result of the completeness of their performance, their high technical skill, the expressive power born from their harmony, and above all the bond of trust between the two," the spokesman said.
From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026
Therefore, to use the expressive, if not elegant, language of a schoolgirl, “He was as nervous as a witch and as cross as a bear”.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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.
