expressive

[ ik-spres-iv ]

/ ɪkˈsprɛs ɪv /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: expressive / expressiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of expressive

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

synonym study for expressive

See eloquent.

OTHER WORDS FROM expressive

ex·pres·sive·ly, adverbex·pres·sive·ness, nounan·ti·ex·pres·sive, adjectivean·ti·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverb

an·ti·ex·pres·sive·ness, nounnon·ex·pres·sive, adjectivenon·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverbnon·ex·pres·sive·ness, nouno·ver·ex·pres·sive, adjectiveo·ver·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverbo·ver·ex·pres·sive·ness, nounpre·ex·pres·sive, adjectivesu·per·ex·pres·sive, adjectivesu·per·ex·pres·sive·ly, adverbsu·per·ex·pres·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use expressive in a sentence

Compared to other types of records and expressive mediums, the internet is ephemeral.
How to save important photos and video from the web|John Kennedy|January 19, 2021|Popular-Science
The women Toulouse-Lautrec painted step out of the paintings to the surprise of the painter, conceived as an expressive puppet designed by James Ortiz and worked by company member Ryan Lisa.
Looking from the outside in, ‘Voyeur’ reimagines the life of Toulouse-Lautrec|Jose Solís|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Everything here is less than $200, a reflection of Madcap’s strong belief that “good design need not be expensive, only expressive,” Loecke says.
Shopping with the pros: The Madcap Cottage team chooses favorites from Terrain|Mari-Jane Williams|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
If big, expressive eyes can indicate the smacking of lips, these do.
‘Bugsnax’ is charming and funny, but sapped by vexing gameplay|Harold Goldberg|November 9, 2020|Washington Post

With fair skin boosting the expressiveness of her big blue eyes, Kazan resembles a slightly more cherub-faced Jennifer Connelly.
Zoe Kazan Talks About Starring in ‘Ruby Sparks,’ Grandfather Elia Kazan, & More|Marlow Stern|July 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Before I got fired I was gnawing at the edges of my expressiveness or my brazenness.
Rick Sanchez Licks His Wounds|Adam Hanft|January 9, 2011|DAILY BEAST
She channeled that new expressiveness toward a solution: writing a followup to the Harrises in early 2009.
The Last Columbine Mystery|Dave Cullen|February 24, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Moreover, by the time he reaches college it is too late to teach him even common, idiomatic expressiveness.
The Idyl of Twin Fires|Walter Prichard Eaton
Not vitality merely, but a wonderful sort of expressiveness—it is the mood of all their work.
Florence and Northern Tuscany with Genoa|Edward Hutton
It is to be regretted that dramatic singers of this day pay so little attention to purely tonal expressiveness.
The Psychology of Singing|David C. Taylor
Baron broke out, with a sudden expressiveness which made his voice, as it fell upon his ear, strike him as the voice of another.
The Real Thing and Other Tales|Henry James
He is impelled to an expressiveness of voice, manner and action that often looks like pretence to less impulsive people.
How to Analyze People on Sight|Elsie Lincoln Benedict and Ralph Paine Benedict

British Dictionary definitions for expressive

expressive

/ (ɪkˈsprɛsɪv) /

adjective

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, adverbexpressiveness, 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

expressive

Origin of expressive

synonym study for expressive

OTHER WORDS FROM expressive

Words related to expressive

How to use expressive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for expressive

Derived forms of expressive