as in creative
having a role in deciding something's final form
a teacher who was a formative influence on generations of students
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Recent Examples of formative
The extraordinary success achieved by some of the world’s greatest leaders often traces back to formative, and sometimes complicated, childhood environments.
—
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
Going to see Justin Vivian Bond at Joe’s Pub for many years was a formative experience.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Such experiences of deliberate deurbanization were politically formative.
—JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
But his first job in retail, training at Tesco under Sir Terry Leahy, was particularly formative.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
Going to see Justin Vivian Bond at Joe’s Pub for many years was a formative experience.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Such experiences of deliberate deurbanization were politically formative.
—JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
But his first job in retail, training at Tesco under Sir Terry Leahy, was particularly formative.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formative
Adjective
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Chelsea have been at their creative best in the second half of matches, creating 15 big chances (second-best behind Palace’s 17) and scoring eight (best).—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Ackermann was named creative director of Tom Ford Fashion in September last year, succeeding Peter Hawkings.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For me, the challenge isn’t how to be more productive or move faster using AI.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Oct. 2025
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In that game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period — a productive quarter but well below his usual total output for a full game.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Denver Post,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This brutal honesty isn’t always possible in every team, and, of course, any criticism should still be constructive in substance and form.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
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Campbell was constructive about rideshare supply dynamics, given solid and stable driver economics, Mahaney noted.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Formative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formative. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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