Definition of reformativenext
as in corrective
serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition took reformative measures to curb abuses in the state's system of justice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 reformative The idea, while well-intentioned, appears to be more performative than reformative. Ellen McGirt, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2018 Behind the scenes, though, the bill text began not as a reformative measure, but as a company-friendly statute that would help industry avoid some regulations. Neil Bedi, ProPublica, 14 Dec. 2022 The redemptive and reformative power of stories runs through the film, the opening shot of which contains a spare movie set, dominated by scaffolding and a camera track on the floor. John Anderson, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2022 As part of the reformative aims of the convict system, many of these men were incarcerated at Fremantle Prison, trained, and put to work on infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, and public buildings. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025 While the idea of hiring actors might raise some eyebrows, acting and artistry can be an important step in the reformative process, and Hemsworth suggested that the actors’ real-life experiences helped shape their on-screen characters. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2023 Fifty-five years after Martin Luther King's death, African Americans continue to proudly honor his reformative legacy in Phoenix. The Arizona Republic, 14 Jan. 2024 Moores positioned himself as the pro-police candidate compared to Stansbury's more reformative stance, reflecting national concerns about policing in the wake of killings of people of color by police and nationwide protests in favor of Black lives. Chelsey Cox, USA TODAY, 3 June 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reformative
Adjective
  • An additional open question is whether an innocent taxpayer’s corrective amendment after discovering the preparer’s fraud would have any legal effect on the SOL.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Unlike many plants, a peace lily doesn't typically require corrective pruning.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • In the film about two teens in a reformatory school, the camera becomes the point-of-view of a couple of characters, while other characters look directly into the lens.
    Randee Dawn, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
  • While Spanish Catholicism and reformatory Protestantism favored black clothing, much of the Renaissance happened in an explosion of color.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
Adjective
  • According to Ballato, hydrangea stems contain a sap similar to pine trees that can deter beneficial water flow.
    Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 6 July 2026
  • Activities such as walking, swimming, cycling, stretching, and yoga are all beneficial.
    Mélanie Defouilloy, Vogue, 6 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!