innovative

adjective

ˈi-nə-ˌvā-tiv How to pronounce innovative (audio)
Definition of innovativenext
1
as in inventive
having the skill and imagination to create new things an award for the most innovative designer of consumer electronics

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imaginative
showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing innovative automotive technology

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 innovative On May 4, 1984, Oakland’s always-innovative Dave Kingman hit a ball that got stuck in the Metrodome roof in Minnesota. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 The movie’s strength is its innovative music structure, as Pascal’s cellist plays different movie scores in a series of Hollywood sessions that throw his memories back in time. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2026 While biomimicking a marine animal may seem like an obvious route for innovative design with underwater vehicles and buildings, the team’s approach also applies to terrestrial buildings. — New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026 Operation Vivaldi has been largely defined by Ukraine’s innovative use of technology, especially aerial and ground drones and armored personal carriers. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for innovative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innovative
  1. inventive
  2. imaginative
  3. creative
  4. clever
  5. talented
Adjective
  • Last year, there weren’t as many, but for us, animation is such an inventive form.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In 2011, Joe Kay debuted Soulection as a college radio show at Cal State Long Beach, spinning rare B-sides, progressive beats, inventive flips of classic records and soulful underground tracks.
    — Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of inventive
Adjective
  • From this format emerges the tacit thesis that the Bicentennial cultural activities excelled at provoking critical, imaginative reflections on America’s past and future from artmakers and from ordinary citizens alike.
    — Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Expanding on French drama series, Debeurme praised his colleagues and fellow artists presenting audacious, imaginative projects in La Rochelle.
    — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of imaginative
Adjective
  • Erin Kleinberg, founder of body and fragrance brand Sidia and co-founder of creative agency Métier, built her brand with that discipline in mind.
    — Rhea Cartwright, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In addition to traditional advertising and marketing, out-of-the-box creative strategies and unconventional endeavors are at the core of his mission to get that word out that the once-wayward brand is back.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of creative
Adjective
  • By upgrading synthetic skin from a passive sensor into an energy harvester, the Fudan team offers a clever alternative to deadweight batteries.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Halloween is sneaking up frighteningly fast, which means the window for coming up with a genuinely clever costume is closing at an alarming rate.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of clever
Adjective
  • There’s no more talented quartet of perimeter players on one team than James/Brown/Maxey/Edgecombe.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The story plays out in New York’s cutthroat acting scene, where a talented Indian actor chasing his craft falls under the sway of Keitel’s teacher.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of talented

Browse Nearby Words

innovations
innovative
innovativeness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Innovative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innovative. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All