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Definitions

formative

[fawr-muh-tiv] / ˈfɔr mə tɪv /
ADJECTIVE
influential, impressionable
Synonyms
Antonyms
WEAK
destructive noninfluential


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.

For many young Lebanese caught in the crossfire, their formative years have been jeopardised by repeated conflicts and crises.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

It meant a generation of youngsters in the area missed out on the chance to use the indoor facility like Carrick did in his formative years.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

The installation begins with works made in New York and San Francisco early on, providing a sense of what was at stake in the formative years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

For those who create and read fanfic, rewriting stories that aren’t originally yours isn’t wanton IP infringement; they’re an extension of the formative, meaningful texts that, read over and over, feel like they become yours.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026

Throughout my formative years, the set remained on our library shelves, weighty and regal-looking with its gold spines.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides