expressive

[ik-spres-iv]

adjective

1. full of expression; meaningful.

   an expressive shrug.

2. serving to express; indicative of power to express.

   a look expressive of gratitude.

3. of, relating to, or concerned with expression.

   Dance is a highly expressive art.

4. Sociology.,  (of a crowd or group) engaging in nonpurposeful activity of an expressive and often rhythmic nature, as weeping, dancing, or shouting.

5. 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.

expressive

/ ɪkˈsprɛsɪv /

adjective

1. of, involving, or full of expression

2. indicative or suggestive (of)

   a look expressive of love

3. having a particular meaning, feeling, or force; significant

Other Word Forms

• expressively adverb
• expressiveness noun
• antiexpressive adjective
• antiexpressively adverb
• antiexpressiveness noun
• nonexpressive adjective
• nonexpressively adverb
• nonexpressiveness noun
• overexpressive adjective
• overexpressively adverb
• overexpressiveness noun
• preexpressive adjective
• superexpressive adjective
• superexpressively adverb
• superexpressiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of expressive¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French; express, -ive

Synonym Study

See eloquent ( def. ).

Example Sentences

The performance was another matter altogether, a dizzying mix of expressive, ultra-attacking football played at a rapid pace, combined with a raw physical intensity off the ball which overwhelmed their opponents.

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He says he would do basically anything that felt “rebellious and expressive.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Two gripping tracks on “Figure in Blue” are anchored by Mr. Sewell’s unusually expressive slide-guitar playing and guided by the feeling he creates leaping forward here and laying back there.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The focal point of his soft, expressive, not unkind face was his mouth, mainly because it was usually at least half open, even while he ate.

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She is pursuing a master’s in social work and looking into PhD programs in expressive arts therapy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• articulate 
• artistic 
• colorful 
• dramatic 
• eloquent 
• energetic 
• passionate 
• poignant 
• striking 
• suggestive 
• thoughtful 
• vivid 

When To Use

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.