comparative

adjective

kəm-ˈper-ə-tiv How to pronounce comparative (audio)
Definition of comparativenext
as in relative
being such only when compared to something else if you consider the multimillionaire's yearly income, we're living in comparative poverty

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 comparative When transactional tasks are automated, the comparative advantage shifts toward those who can ask better questions about talent, capability, and culture. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Using a non-comparative, cradle-to-gate method that excluded downstream applications and packaging, the study tracked materials from extraction or waste collection to the final textile-ready product, whether PET chips, staple fiber or yarns. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 17 June 2026 Before becoming head of editorial content at Vogue, Candice Bergen's daughter Chloe Malle studied comparative literature and literary arts at Brown University. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026 The study grew out of a broader question about prosocial behavior—why some species help others and some don’t, says comparative ethologist and study co-author Melitta Csepregi, who studies animal behavior at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary. — Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Scientific American, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for comparative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comparative
relative
Adjective
  • Standard container dimensions also enable civilian transportation infrastructure to move military assets with relative ease, improving operational flexibility, reported SCMP.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • Another factor in the increasing scores across the board in Florida could be the relative youth of the FAST test, which was first used in 2022.
    — Austin Horn July 3, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Definition of relative

Browse Nearby Words

comparable
comparative
compare
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Cite this Entry

“Comparative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comparative. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of comparative for Spanish Speakers

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