formalistic

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 argument advanced by the IRS is a formalistic one that results in an absurdity: Cryptocurrency wasn’t explicitly included in the list of items that meet the “readily valued property” exemption to the appraisal rules.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

It’s foundational and it’s formalistic, but it’s not going anywhere.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2024

As a filmmaker, Hogg is a seemingly incongruous blend of free-flowing and formalistic.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 27, 2021

The culture minister’s committee recommended in 2020 that the “balance” test be abandoned and called for a more empathetic approach, saying that the restitutions committee needed to become less formalistic in its responses to claims.

From New York Times • Aug. 26, 2021

His works make one keenly aware of the rhythmical, the formalistic limitations of Chopin's piano pieces, of the steeliness of much of Brahms', of the shallow brilliancy, the theatricality, of Liszt's.

From Musical Portraits Interpretations of Twenty Modern Composers by Rosenfeld, Paul