suggestive
Americanadjective
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that suggests; referring to other thoughts, persons, etc..
His recommendation was suggestive of his boss's thinking.
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rich in suggestions or ideas.
a suggestive critical essay.
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evocative; presented partially rather than in detail.
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that suggests or implies something improper or indecent; risqué;
suggestive remarks.
adjective
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conveying a hint (of something)
this painting is suggestive of a hot summer day
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tending to suggest something improper or indecent
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able or liable to suggest an idea, plan, etc
Usage
What are other ways to say suggestive? Something that is suggestive refers to other thoughts or persons. Do you know when to use suggestive over its synonyms expressive, meaningful, and significant? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of suggestive
Explanation
The adjective suggestive is useful when one thing indicates or hints at something else. Your constant yawning, for example, is suggestive of how tired you are. Scientists and researchers often use the word suggestive to describe results that indicate a strong possibility of something without decisively proving it: "This is suggestive evidence of life on other planets." Sometimes, suggestive is used to describe something inappropriate or obscene: "Parents always think popular music's lyrics are too suggestive." This meaning came about in the late 1800's, more than two hundred years after suggestive first appeared in the language from the verb suggest.
Vocabulary lists containing suggestive
Darius the Great Is Not Okay
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What If It's Us
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Last Night at the Telegraph Club
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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.
Suggestive use is made of the sampled, amplified sounds of horses’ hooves, water dripping and ominous spoken passages from ’30s radio broadcasts.
From New York Times • Apr. 9, 2023
Suggestive of music played for close friends, or even for a lover, the nocturnes get an even more intimate, meditative reinvention from Lisiecki, who said he regards them as pieces ideally to be played alone.
From New York Times • Aug. 13, 2021
Suggestive of Scottish winter skies and cosy nights by the fire?
From The Guardian • Oct. 28, 2019
Suggestive both of innocence and coldness, his large eyes were perfect for film, as was the combination of little-boy pallor, sharp suit, razor-scar and Brylcreemed crest.
From The Guardian • Jul. 26, 2013
Suggestive description, description the aim of which is not information, but the reproduction of a picture, is the kind most employed in literature.
From English: Composition and Literature by Webster, W. F. (William Franklin)
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.
