expositive

adjective

ik-ˈspä-zə-tiv How to pronounce expositive (audio)
Definition of expositivenext
as in interpretive
serving to explain the writer's descriptions are objectively expositive and entirely without editorialization

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for expositive
  1. interpretive
  2. interpretative
  3. illustrative
Adjective
  • For something quieter, there’s a riverside interpretive trail along the Nenana.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In the soft light of dawn, an Ohio tourist studied the interpretive sign at the summit of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, reading about how magma formed the ground under her feet.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of interpretive
Adjective
  • Another way this plays out in the book is in my analysis of how re-translators often echo or follow one another, rather than looking afresh at the interpretative possibilities of the originals.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The effects of such abstemiousness are less clear, though a pair of new movies point in two very different interpretative directions.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of interpretative
Adjective
  • Statistics or dollar amounts are supported but illustrative, not promises.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The widespread response to the disaster is illustrative of the relationship between Nepal’s public and private sectors in this time of transition.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of illustrative
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.

Browse Nearby Words

expositions
expositive
expository
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Cite this Entry

“Expositive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expositive. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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