expressive
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.: Compare active (def. 15), orgiastic (def. 3).
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.
Origin of expressive
1synonym study For expressive
Other words from expressive
- ex·pres·sive·ly, adverb
- ex·pres·sive·ness, noun
- an·ti·ex·pres·sive, adjective
- an·ti·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverb
- an·ti·ex·pres·sive·ness, noun
- non·ex·pres·sive, adjective
- non·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverb
- non·ex·pres·sive·ness, noun
- o·ver·ex·pres·sive, adjective
- o·ver·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverb
- o·ver·ex·pres·sive·ness, noun
- pre·ex·pres·sive, adjective
- su·per·ex·pres·sive, adjective
- su·per·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverb
- su·per·ex·pres·sive·ness, noun
Words Nearby expressive
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use expressive in a sentence
From Great Moments with Mr Lincoln, to incredibly expressive characters like the Na’Vi Shaman anchored inside a dark ride, to characters that hold up in bright, well lit spaces.
Disney Imagineering’s Project Kiwi is a free-walking robot that will make you believe in Groot | Matthew Panzarino | April 23, 2021 | TechCrunchAs Alina, actress Jessie Mei Li’s conviction anchors Shadow and Bone, and her expressive gentleness imparts soul.
Netflix’s ‘Shadow and Bone’ Is a Chaotic, Confounding, Totally Engrossing Ride | Laura Bradley | April 23, 2021 | The Daily BeastShan is not an expressive kid, not one to talk about his feelings, so his silence is how Anjy Cramer knows he is feeling upset.
Kids are returning to classrooms. But what will happen to those who stay at home? | Hannah Natanson, Donna St. George | April 11, 2021 | Washington PostIf the government aims to protect particular ideas, then it’s aiming directly at the expressive autonomy of American citizens—and companies.
A Surprising Opinion From Justice Thomas May Signal an Ominous Shift on Free Speech | David French | April 9, 2021 | TimeYoung people have grown up in a time when politics is more “expressive and conversational when compared to previous generations,” says Feezell.
How ‘Cancel Culture’ Became An Issue For Young Republicans | Meredith Conroy | March 22, 2021 | FiveThirtyEight
The instrumental view of culture has it wrong, she argues, and should be replaced with what she calls an “expressive view.”
The Insane Swedish Plan to Rate Games for Sexism | Nick Gillespie | November 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTRobin Williams, as I knew him, was warm, gentle, expressive, nurturing, and brilliant.
Mara Wilson Remembers Robin Williams: We're All His Goddamn Kids | Mara Wilson | August 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWith me, finding out how expressive people could be in music really saved me.
La Roux Discusses New Album ‘Trouble in Paradise,’ the 5-Year Gap, and Embracing Her Androgyny | Marlow Stern | July 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBitcoin serves a purpose that is at once expressive and purposeful.
He combines fabrics and textures and prints in a very expressive way.
The rightly cultivated expressive voice is the man—speaking.
Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge SouthwickMrs. Kaye's expressive eyes, which had dwelt on Isabel with flattering attention, fell to the tip of her cigarette.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonThe circle around did not exactly contradict him, but exhibited expressive appearances of incredulity.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousThe two most pleasing, expressive, and powerful single instruments of music are the human voice and the violin.
Violins and Violin Makers | Joseph PearceHe was also the inventor of "Poikilorgue," an expressive organ, which was the origin of the harmonium.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing Miller
British Dictionary definitions for expressive
/ (ɪkˈsprɛsɪv) /
of, involving, or full of expression
(postpositive foll by of) indicative or suggestive (of): a look expressive of love
having a particular meaning, feeling, or force; significant
Derived forms of expressive
- expressively, adverb
- expressiveness, noun
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
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