suggestive

adjective

sug·​ges·​tive səg-ˈje-stiv How to pronounce suggestive (audio)
sə-ˈje-
1
a
: giving a suggestion : indicative
suggestive of a past era
b
: full of suggestions : stimulating thought
provided a suggestive … commentary on the eraLloyd Morris
c
: stirring mental associations : evocative
2
: suggesting or tending to suggest something improper or indecent : risqué
suggestively adverb
suggestiveness noun

Examples of suggestive in a Sentence

making unwelcome suggestive remarks to a subordinate will be regarded as sexual harassment a haunting and suggestive song about a long-lost love
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.
According to the outlet, the message appears to bear Trump’s signature and included a suggestive drawing. Julia Mueller, The Hill, 29 July 2025 The move follows a $10 billion defamation lawsuit Trump filed against the Journal and Rupert Murdoch over a story linking him to Jeffrey Epstein via a suggestive birthday letter. Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025 Donald Trump sued Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch and two Wall Street Journal reporters on Friday over an explosive report that the president wrote a 2003 birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein that contained suggestive language. Brent Lang, Variety, 18 July 2025 As the night came to a close, Jonathon was walking the Golden ladies to their bedrooms when April caught him off guard with a suggestive comment. Liza Esquibias, People.com, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for suggestive

Word History

First Known Use

1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of suggestive was in 1631

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suggestive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suggestive. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

suggestive

adjective
sug·​ges·​tive sə(g)-ˈjes-tiv How to pronounce suggestive (audio)
1
a
: giving a suggestion : indicative
suggestive of a past era
b
: full of suggestions : stimulating thought
c
: stirring mental associations
2
: suggesting something improper or indecent
suggestively adverb
suggestiveness noun

Medical Definition

suggestive

adjective
sug·​ges·​tive sə(g)-ˈjes-tiv How to pronounce suggestive (audio)
1
: serving to indicate
a butterfly-shaped red rash … is highly suggestive of the diseaseS. E. Goldfinger et al.
2
: tending to act like or have the effect of suggestion

Legal Definition

suggestive

adjective
sug·​ges·​tive
: giving a suggestion or making a hint: as
a
: being a trademark, trade dress, trade name, or service mark that requires the consumer to use thought and imagination to perceive the nature of the product or service

Note: Suggestive marks are entitled to trademark protection without proof of secondary meaning.

b
: relating to or being a lineup that in some way suggests to the witness which member of the lineup is in fact the defendant

More from Merriam-Webster on suggestive

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