suspensive
Americanadjective
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pertaining to or characterized by suspension.
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undecided in mind.
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pertaining to or characterized by suspense.
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(of words, phrases, etc.) characterized by or expressing suspense; keeping the reader or listener in suspense.
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having the effect of suspending the operation of something.
adjective
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having the power of deferment; effecting suspension
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causing, characterized by, or relating to suspense
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inclined to defer judgment; undecided
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of suspensive
1540–50; < Medieval Latin suspēnsīvus, equivalent to suspēns ( us ) ( see suspense) + -īvus -ive
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.
The appeal is not suspensive, meaning it does not immediately block the construction of the detention centre while the legal process is ongoing.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
An appeal has no suspensive effect, meaning people can be deporting during a pending trial.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2023
Upon ordinary legislation the House of Lords possesses still a veto—a veto, however, which is no longer absolute but only suspensive.
From The Governments of Europe by Ogg, Frederic Austin
In order to exclude the intervention of the king in favour of a suspensive veto, he accepted the argument that the Constitution was in the hands of the Assembly alone.
From Lectures on the French Revolution by Figgis, John Neville
The suspensive tone which the voice assumes at the end of the interrogation is indicative of incompleteness of thought; and indication of incompleteness is the characteristic function of all rising intervals.
From The Ontario Readers: The High School Reader, 1886 by Ontario. Ministry of Education
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.
