descriptive

adjective

Definition of descriptivenext
as in graphic
having many features or details He told a descriptive story about his trip to Spain that captured our attention. An overly descriptive account of the movie that left little to the imagination.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of descriptive The collection will number 354, each with a likeness and a few lines of descriptive text. — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 24 July 2026 These sentences are part of a four-plus-page descriptive riff, one of many passages that lend the novel a teeming, avid opacity. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 July 2026 All the trappings of rage—the non-descriptive mentions of drug intake, the unspecified sadness, the shock-rock innuendos—are unshakeable. — Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026 That descriptive layer of metadata is what makes any record findable and safe to use. — Michael Leone, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for descriptive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descriptive
  1. graphic
  2. realistic
  3. vivid
  4. expressive
  5. picturesque
  6. photographic
  7. accurate
  8. specific
Adjective
  • The cups on display, with sleek forms and graphic twinkles, immediately felt relatable yet also transcendent, the boundary between life and art blissfully obliterated.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Students may use Venn diagrams or other graphic organizers to take notes.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of graphic
Adjective
  • Keeping him and his elite scoring ability would give the Red Wings a much more realistic ability to compete in the near future.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The states’ lawyers had signaled roughly $200 billion was a more realistic target at trial.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of realistic
Adjective
  • Its most vivid life may be long gone, but should it be preserved — the rich history and the nostalgia?
    — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
  • His writing and characterization is so dark, vivid, and interesting.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of vivid
Adjective
  • This means, after the messenger planet’s bold and expressive journey through Leo, the focus moves away from creative and dramatic declarations (Leo) to a desire for productivity and grounding in the realm of communication.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Plus, Deep Rooted is versatile enough to pair with soft neutrals, expressive blues, and calming greens.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of expressive
Adjective
  • Together, the couple showcases a love blossoming in limited time in the picturesque backdrop of the island.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Rooms Located on a picturesque row of colorful Victorian homes, Hotel Albatross blends in seamlessly with the historic architecture of Ocean Grove.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of picturesque
Adjective
  • The 1970s saw electronic detectors take over for photographic plates, increasing the detector sensitivity by an order of magnitude.
    — Don Figer, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Think 19th century photographic storytellers Julia Margaret Cameron and Oscar Gustave Rejlander.
    — Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of photographic
Adjective
  • The more accurate framing is that many of these fees are supplier-imposed and disclosed in booking terms that travelers frequently do not read in full.
    — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Maher noted that many of those candidates were heavy favorites to win but agreed that his statement was not accurate.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of accurate
Adjective
  • The Vikings will use him on special teams and as a game-plan-specific blitzer.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Lives built around specific products, even at a few thousand followers, are becoming a viable path to affiliate income.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of specific

Browse Nearby Words

descriptions
descriptive
descry
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Descriptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descriptive. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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