meaningful

adjective

ˈmē-niŋ-fəl How to pronounce meaningful (audio)
Definition of meaningfulnext
1
as in suggestive
clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) gave a meaningful sigh when I asked her how things were going

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in important
having great meaning or lasting effect his time in office was too brief to accomplish anything meaningful

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 meaningful On a lesser show, Lee would have thrown Dale a meaningful look, baffled that the material world was aligning with the woo-woo. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 My focus is on making sure these dollars go where they are needed most and deliver meaningful improvements for our neighborhoods. — Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Faster is the only meaningful proof the habit is doing anything for you. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026 Each room centers on at least one meaningful possession of Corcoran’s, surrounded by custom seating, cheerful window treatments and wall coverings, warm pools of lamplight, and an artful mix of antiques. — David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for meaningful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meaningful
  1. suggestive
  2. important
  3. eloquent
  4. significant
  5. expressive
  6. major
  7. revealing
  8. historic
Adjective
  • The effect dissipates somewhat whenever Cahyono resorts to less suggestive, more blatantly surreal imagery.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Though revealing, his version of naked dressing was tantalizingly suggestive rather than explicitly bare.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of suggestive
Adjective
  • Helium plays an important role in wind, solar and nuclear energy production, space exploration, medical imaging and research.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Education and giving back are important values to the family as the project represents for them a broader impact within the natural diamond industry.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of important
Adjective
  • Baitz’s verbal gymnastics aren’t a good fit for Harris, who is at his most eloquent when his characters are at a loss for words.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • One fascination of this brave book—brave in its disclosures but more so in its demands, its spiritual rigor, and its ardent intellectualism—lies in watching the eloquent, intelligent sufferer steadily entrapping herself.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of eloquent
Adjective
  • Summed up, this all provides the ship with significant firepower potential.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In July, the west-to-east ride across the state passed through a significant stretch of the northeastern Iowa district Mitchell hopes to represent.
    — Washington Post, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of significant
Adjective
  • The organ has an imposing physical presence, but its expressive range can become constricting over 13 tracks.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
  • For Cone, that means fabrics with softer hands and authentic but expressive shades.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of expressive
Adjective
  • Of all the major North American sports, baseball is the only one without a salary cap.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The next major milestone will be demonstrating the interceptor’s performance in flight.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of major
Adjective
  • In less than two minutes during a standard postgame interview, Cooley offered a rare and revealing glimpse into the psychology behind peak athletic performance and how the best athletes in the world operate between the ears.
    — Jesse Granger, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The polling divide One of the most revealing findings in the new Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll isn’t just who’s ahead in Georgia’s biggest races.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of revealing
Adjective
  • Police on Tuesday arrested a suspect in the arson attack that charred the historic city hall in Limoges, in central France, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said, adding that the person may not have acted alone.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • On Saturday alone, at least 2,400 people were arrested after rioters in cities across France clashed with police, set cars on fire, stormed public buildings, looted stores and engulfed a historic city hall in flames.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of historic

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Cite this Entry

“Meaningful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meaningful. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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