as in supportive
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something
no dearth of probative evidence for the theory of evolution
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Recent Examples of probative
This request is denied since these holes in the factual record, where defendants hold the pertinent backup evidence—should such evidence exist—are actually probative in assessing the reliability and accuracy, or lack thereof, of other representations by defendants about their actions more broadly.
—
New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Perhaps there is no more probative example of this when the current president would not rule out using American military force to take Greenland and/or the Panama Canal.
—Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2025
Weinstein's lawyers argued before the trial that use of such testimony is more prejudicial than probative, but the judge who presided over the trial decided to allow it following a secret hearing.
—Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 2 June 2022
If the emails are probative, the jury should see them.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 14 May 2022
Her recent albums have been even more probative.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2021
Fulbright shepherded the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution through the Senate in 1964, but two years later, his probative hearings helped shift public opinion against the war.
—James Goldgeier, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2018
New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Perhaps there is no more probative example of this when the current president would not rule out using American military force to take Greenland and/or the Panama Canal.
—Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2025
Weinstein's lawyers argued before the trial that use of such testimony is more prejudicial than probative, but the judge who presided over the trial decided to allow it following a secret hearing.
—Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 2 June 2022
If the emails are probative, the jury should see them.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 14 May 2022
Her recent albums have been even more probative.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2021
Fulbright shepherded the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution through the Senate in 1964, but two years later, his probative hearings helped shift public opinion against the war.
—James Goldgeier, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for probative
Adjective
-
When to use a neti pot In modern medicine, nasal irrigation through neti pots and other methods such as squeeze bottles and bulb syringes are widely recognized as a supportive therapy for sinus and nasal symptoms.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
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Shop more comfy, supportive bralettes on Amazon, below.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Some went after Cashman, some after Boone, some after Steinbrenner’s son Hal, and some after Aaron Judge’s non-supporting cast.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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Sure, that was exacerbated, and to some degree directly caused, by the ample non-supporting cast around him, especially on the offensive line.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Probative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probative. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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