formative

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

Mojtaba Khamenei spent his formative years like many young Iranian men, fighting in the 1980-1988 war against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 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

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

She spoke as if she had spent her formative years in some boarding school, walking around with a big-lettered sweater tied around her shoulders.

From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez