: intended or tending to reform

Examples of reformative in a Sentence

took reformative measures to curb abuses in the state's welfare system
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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 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

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reformative was in 1593

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Cite this Entry

“Reformative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reformative. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

reformative

adjective
: tending or likely to reform
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