evocative

adjective

evoc·​a·​tive i-ˈvä-kə-tiv How to pronounce evocative (audio)
Synonyms of evocative
: evoking or tending to evoke an especially emotional response
… settings … so evocative that they bring tears to the eyes …—Eric Malpass
evocatively adverb
evocativeness noun

Synonyms of evocative

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Examples of evocative in a Sentence

He wrote a powerful and evocative biography. the Italian-American restaurant is decorated in a manner evocative of the charming outdoor cafés in Italy
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.
The silhouette felt minimalist and even slightly evocative of the ’90s with classic design cues. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026 Brooke Reese, the host of Apple Music’s Global Chart Show, says that beyond radio play and chart domination, audiences appreciate an evocative and vulnerable performance, which doesn’t always require jaw-dropping vocals. — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026 This puzzle is stuffed with nuance, pleasing crosses and a lot of simply terrific, ridiculously evocative stuff — for example, a jarring assortment of lovely trivia intersecting with some hideous ailments at more than one juncture. — Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 This standalone novel looks at the cult of celebrity, the bond among parents and children, entitlement and arrogance, all wrapped into a tightly wound plot that’s an evocative historical steeped in the Great Depression. — Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for evocative

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of evocative was in 1657

Rhymes for evocative

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Browse Nearby Words

evocation
evocative
evocatively
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Cite this Entry

“Evocative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evocative. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

evocative

adjective
evoc·​a·​tive i-ˈväk-ət-iv How to pronounce evocative (audio)
: having the power to evoke an especially emotional response
an evocative photograph
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