expressive

[ik-spres-iv] / ɪkˈsprɛs ɪv /

ADJECTIVE

telling, revealing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

articulate artistic colorful dramatic eloquent energetic passionate poignant striking suggestive thoughtful vivid

WEAK

alive allusive brilliant demonstrative emphatic forcible graphic indicative ingenious lively masterly meaningful mobile moving pathetic pictorial picturesque pointed pregnant representative responsive revelatory showy significant silver-tongued spirited stimulating stirring strong sympathetic tender touching understanding warm

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dull lifeless ugly uncaring

WEAK

expressionless inexpressive passive undemonstrative

Usage

What are other ways to say expressive? The adjective 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.

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.

“You were so . . . so expressive. The way your tears ran! Was it difficult making yourself cry like that?”

From Literature

But Mr. Styles’s voice, while expressive in certain contexts, is incapable of conveying hedonism, and “Aperture” ends up feeling blandly uplifting rather than transcendent.

From The Wall Street Journal

Now, eight months after Brian Wilson’s death in June at age 82, a new box set looks back at the era as an expressive outpouring led by the band’s rejuvenated visionary.

From Los Angeles Times

The conductor is petite with large, expressive eyes and a Cheshire cat’s smile.

From Los Angeles Times

But the characters are expressive, and the medium is used to unreal ends, which is, after all, what cartoons are good for.

From Los Angeles Times

expressive

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words