DESCRIPTIVE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for DESCRIPTIVE?

Need another word that means the same as “descriptive”? Find 13 synonyms and 30 related words for “descriptive” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Descriptive” are: illustrative, expressive, pictorial, depictive, graphic, picturesque, vivid, striking, elucidative, evaluative, interpretive, expository, revelatory

Descriptive as an Adjective

Definitions of "Descriptive" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “descriptive” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Serving or seeking to describe.
• Serving to describe or inform or characterized by description.
• Of or relating to an approach to linguistic analysis that aims at the description of a language's forms, structures and usage.
• (of an adjective) assigning a quality rather than restricting the application of the expression modified, e.g. blue as distinct from few.
• Describing or classifying in an objective and non-judgemental way.
• Describing accents, forms, structures, and usage without making value judgements.
• Describing the structure of a language.

Synonyms of "Descriptive" as an adjective (13 Words)

depictive	Depicted in a recognizable manner.
elucidative	That makes clear.
evaluative	Based on or relating to an assessment to form an idea of the value of something. You will need to demonstrate analytical and evaluative skills.
expository	Serving to expound or set forth. Clean expository writing.
expressive	Conveying (a specified quality or idea. The spires are expressive of religious aspiration.
graphic	Of or relating to the graphic arts British Book News. Graphic accounts of battle.
illustrative	Relating to pictorial illustration. This timetable is provided for illustrative purposes only.
interpretive	That provides interpretation.
pictorial	Of or expressed in pictures; illustrated. Feelings presented in a pictorial form.
picturesque	(of a place or building) visually attractive, especially in a quaint or charming way. A picturesque village.
revelatory	Prophetic of devastation or ultimate doom. A revelatory experience.
striking	(of an employee) on strike. It is striking that no research into the problem is being carried out.
vivid	Having striking color. Memories of that evening were still vivid.

Usage Examples of "Descriptive" as an adjective

• Descriptive grammar.
• The text contains some good descriptive passages.

Associations of "Descriptive" (30 Words)

annotation	A comment or instruction (usually added. Annotation of prescribed texts.
article	The definite or indefinite article. An article of clothing.
caret	A mark used by an author or editor to indicate where something is to be inserted into a text.
clarify	Melt (butter) in order to separate out the water and milk solids. Clarify beer.
comment	Turn part of a program into a comment so that the computer ignores it when running the program. She denies that the film is a comment on the perils of celebrity.
define	Make up or establish the character or essence of. She defined her eyes by applying eyeshadow to her eyelids.
definition	The action or process of defining something. Our definition of what constitutes poetry.
depict	Represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form. Youth is depicted as a time of vitality and good health.
depiction	A graphic or vivid verbal description. The painting s horrific depiction of war.
directory	A file which consists solely of a set of other files (which may themselves be directories).
elucidate	Make (something) clear; explain. Work such as theirs will help to elucidate this matter.
expatiate	Speak or write in detail about. She expatiated on working class novelists.
explain	Make (an idea or situation) clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts. They know stories about me that I can t explain away.
explicate	Analyse (a literary work) in order to reveal its meaning. An attempt to explicate the relationship between crime and economic forces.
expository	Intended to explain or describe something. An expository prologue.
expound	Add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing. The abbess expounded the scriptures to her nuns.
fact	A concept whose truth can be proved. The most commonly known fact about hedgehogs is that they have fleas.
instruction	A code in a program which defines and carries out an operation. Always study the instructions supplied.
instructions	A manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it.
interpret	Give an interpretation or rendition of. He would no longer interpret her silence as indifference.
interpretation	An explanation or way of explaining. His unique interpretation of the Liszt tudes.
linguistic	Relating to language or linguistics. A linguistic atlas.
narrative	Consisting of or characterized by the telling of a story. A narrative poem.
notation	A note or annotation. He added a short notation to the address on the envelope.
quote	Put quote marks around. A quote from Wordsworth.
rationale	(law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature. The rationale for capital punishment.
signification	The message that is intended or expressed or signified. Film comes closer than other forms of signification to resemblance of reality.
statement	A definite or clear expression of something in speech or writing. She made a statement to the police.
text	A text message. Stylistic features of journalistic text.
writing	The activity or skill of writing. She made a decent living from writing.