instructive

adjective

in-ˈstrək-tiv How to pronounce instructive (audio)
Definition of instructivenext
as in informative
providing useful information or knowledge an instructive demonstration of the proper way to pack a suitcase so your clothes don't arrive in a mess

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 instructive Sometimes our body’s machinery for processing alcohol falters in instructive ways. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 To Brian, films are not instructive models for living but exist purely as aesthetic objects and experiences that can be appreciated entirely in and of themselves. — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 Marquette Law School’s polling has been instructive for candidates in the region. — Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Aug. 2026 The pros and cons of longevity calculators For older Americans who might be underestimating their longevity, a life expectancy calculator can provide an instructive lesson. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for instructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instructive
  1. informative
  2. educational
  3. educative
  4. instructional
  5. informational
  6. illuminating
Adjective
  • The assumed inference is that travelers rely on Google for their travel needs and that informative brochures and knowledgeable attendants are a quaint idea that has outlived its usefulness.
    — Frank Hosek, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The goal is not to replace clinical trials, but to make every trial more informative and every development decision more deliberate.
    — Mirjam Trame, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of informative
Adjective
  • The second motion was a preliminary injunction order (PI) intended to stop the Fearless Strivers Grant program, an initiative run by the Fearless Foundation, our nonprofit providing grants and educational resources to Black women entrepreneurs.
    — Arian Simone, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In that way, the university is not simply an educational investment.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of educational
Adjective
  • Perhaps most consequential in this move will be the expansion of the states’ authority and responsibility for educative quality within their jurisdictions.
    — Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • While apples-to-apples comparisons aren’t possible, a look at the streaming businesses is educative for identifying longer-term trends.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of educative
Adjective
  • Under its extreme heat protocol, Pittsburgh Public Schools monitors classroom temperatures during heat waves and considers remote learning when instructional spaces reach 90 degrees or higher.
    — Rebecca Smullin Dawson, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Part of the district’s new instructional model includes teaching from bell to bell to spend as much time as possible delivering instruction.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of instructional
Adjective
  • As Rees sees it, legacy institutions are ill-equipped to arbitrate informational or cultural truths in a network-first world.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The information contained herein is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not in any way be construed as financial or health advice.
    — Karen Koehler, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of informational
Adjective
  • Even if biology is ultimately not as quantum as researchers once hoped, there may still be interesting — and potentially illuminating — parallels between the living world and the quantum realm.
    — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Now, however, the boutique physical media label Fun City Editions has released a superb Blu-ray of the film, featuring both a gorgeous restoration and illuminating supplements.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of illuminating

Browse Nearby Words

instructions
instructive
instructor
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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