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suggestive

/sə(g)ˈdʒɛstɪv/
/səgˈdʒɛstɪv/
IPA guide

The adjective suggestive is useful when one thing indicates or hints at something else. Your constant yawning, for example, is suggestive of how tired you are.

Scientists and researchers often use the word suggestive to describe results that indicate a strong possibility of something without decisively proving it: "This is suggestive evidence of life on other planets." Sometimes, suggestive is used to describe something inappropriate or obscene: "Parents always think popular music's lyrics are too suggestive." This meaning came about in the late 1800's, more than two hundred years after suggestive first appeared in the language from the verb suggest.

Definitions of suggestive
  1. adjective
    tending to suggest or imply
    “artifacts suggestive of an ancient society”
    synonyms: implicative
    connotative
    having the power of implying or suggesting something in addition to what is explicit
  2. adjective
    (usually followed by `of') pointing out or revealing clearly
    revealing
    showing or making known
  3. adjective
    tending to suggest something improper or indecent
    “a suggestive nod”
    synonyms:
    indecent
    offensive to good taste especially in sexual matters
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘suggestive'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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