expressive
[ik-spres-iv]
- 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 2).
- 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.
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Origin of expressive
Synonyms
See more synonyms for expressive on Thesaurus.com1, 2. Expressive, meaningful, significant, suggestive imply the conveying of a thought, indicating an attitude of mind, or the like, by words or otherwise. Expressive suggests conveying, or being capable of conveying, a thought, intention, emotion, etc., in an effective or vivid manner: an expressive gesture. Meaningful and significant imply an underlying and unexpressed thought whose existence is plainly shown although its precise nature is left to conjecture. Meaningful implies a secret and intimate understanding between the persons involved: Meaningful looks passed between them. Significant suggests conveying important or hidden meaning: On hearing this statement, he gave the officers a significant glance. Suggestive implies an indirect or covert conveying of a meaning, sometimes mentally stimulating, sometimes verging on impropriety or indecency: a suggestive story or remark. See also eloquent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for expressiveness
Contemporary Examples
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, & MoreMarlow Stern
July 26, 2012
Before I got fired I was gnawing at the edges of my expressiveness or my brazenness.
Historical Examples
In expressing the idea, rational rigor and expressiveness collide.
The Civilization of IlliteracyMihai Nadin
Besides, she had her own opinion as to the expressiveness of slang.
Blue Bonnet in BostonCaroline E. Jacobs
Florid singing is not adapted to this form of expressiveness.
The Psychology of SingingDavid C. Taylor
But we call attention to the expressiveness with which these figures are delineated.
The Prehistoric WorldE. A. Allen
The hacendero shot a glance at his daughter full of expressiveness.
The Tiger-SlayerGustave Aimard
expressive
- 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
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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
Word Origin and History for expressiveness
expressive
adj.
c.1400, "tending to press out," from French expressif, from expres "clear, plain," from stem of Latin exprimere (see express (v.)). Meaning "full of expression" is from 1680s. Related: Expressively; expressiveness.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper