as in relative
being such only when compared to something else
if you consider the multimillionaire's yearly income, we're living in comparative poverty
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Recent Examples of comparative
Using a non-comparative, cradle-to-gate method that excluded downstream applications and packaging, the study tracked materials from extraction or waste collection to the final textile-ready product, whether PET chips, staple fiber or yarns.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
The study grew out of a broader question about prosocial behavior—why some species help others and some don’t, says comparative ethologist and study co-author Melitta Csepregi, who studies animal behavior at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary.
—
Anirban Mukhopadhyay,
Scientific American,
10 June 2026
Will the presence of these comparative minnows, combined with 32 teams advancing to the knockout stages, mean a lack of drama?
—
Mark Sappenfield,
Christian Science Monitor,
9 June 2026
Funk was put in touch with William Lovelace, who agreed to accept her into the program despite her comparative youth.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for comparative
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
The study grew out of a broader question about prosocial behavior—why some species help others and some don’t, says comparative ethologist and study co-author Melitta Csepregi, who studies animal behavior at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary.
—
Anirban Mukhopadhyay,
Scientific American,
10 June 2026
Will the presence of these comparative minnows, combined with 32 teams advancing to the knockout stages, mean a lack of drama?
—
Mark Sappenfield,
Christian Science Monitor,
9 June 2026
Funk was put in touch with William Lovelace, who agreed to accept her into the program despite her comparative youth.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for comparative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comparative
relative
Adjective
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Standard container dimensions also enable civilian transportation infrastructure to move military assets with relative ease, improving operational flexibility, reported SCMP.
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Another factor in the increasing scores across the board in Florida could be the relative youth of the FAST test, which was first used in 2022.
Cite this Entry
“Comparative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comparative. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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