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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.

See Examples For:

A film telling the story of his formative years was released in 2025 - the centenary year of his birth.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

While “The Social Reckoning” might stand in the shadow of its formative predecessor, the film confidently asserts its own merit.

From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026

Money plays a pretty formative role in these races.

From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026

Think how many movers and shakers, from Barack Obama to Jeff Bezos to Paul Krugman, cite “Star Trek” or Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation” series as formative influences?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

It was a look that caused Fang a fair amount of grief during his formative years.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

So formatives: stare and stair, starling; steer, sterling; shere, sherrif; child, children; kind, kindred; know, knollege; and dhe rest.

From A Minniature ov Inglish Orthoggraphy by James Elphinston


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