1
as in inventive
having the skill and imagination to create new things
an imaginative child who is always writing short stories about her pet cat
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in innovative
showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing
found an imaginative gadget that can grind the beans and heat the water to brew coffee
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imaginative
Kenney deserves credit for his imaginative (and cost-effective) willingness to split the new operation between two formerly moribund locations and bring them back to life.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
While the book dazzles with imaginative recipes, beginner bakers may find some of the more intricate cakes challenging.
—The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Being imaginative and continually striving to improve your craft are two things that are difficult to teach, and both are areas in which Arieonni excels.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
These captivating Southern tales will charm kids—and adults—with their sweet stories and imaginative illustrations.
—Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for imaginative
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
While the book dazzles with imaginative recipes, beginner bakers may find some of the more intricate cakes challenging.
—The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Being imaginative and continually striving to improve your craft are two things that are difficult to teach, and both are areas in which Arieonni excels.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
These captivating Southern tales will charm kids—and adults—with their sweet stories and imaginative illustrations.
—Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for imaginative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imaginative
Adjective
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The basics are done well here too, with an excellent 24-hour coffee shop and patisserie off the lobby, a little café by the pool mixing inventive smoothies every morning, and an elevated snack bar at the heart of the resort, serving fresh, fluffy tacos.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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This will include everything from simply great hours of stand-up to inventive or wildly ambitious offerings that are big swings but may or may not completely hit the mark.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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There’s a fierce competition in the Italian capital to see who can open the most beautiful, most original, most innovative, and most locally authentic hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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Their broader vision has been to create something that feels more intentional than a traditional brokerage model, pairing local expertise with innovative strategy while keeping client interests at the center of the process.—
Connie Etemadi,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The home here is a ramshackle London town house where a famed painter, Julian Sklar (Ian McKellen), is spending his final years in a haze of creative stagnation and lingering renown.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Invest wisely, and honor your creative joy.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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It’s served alongside rice cooked with mushrooms and herbs, a clever mashup of Malaysian nasi ulam and Haitian djon djon.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Meghan Blanco, a former federal prosecutor and veteran defense attorney, suggested Gee’s inaction with Essayli might be a clever act of resistance.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Albin referenced opposing teams being heavier and more talented in the trenches a season ago, so adding the 6-foot-5, 315-pound tackle, among other new additions, was a top priority.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
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The manual skills with which the products are applied, for example, were fine-tuned by Madame Allouche herself, a very talented osteopath.—
Valentina Bottoni,
Vanity Fair,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imaginative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imaginative. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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