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formative

[fawr-muh-tiv] / ˈfɔr mə tɪv /
ADJECTIVE
influential, impressionable
Synonyms
Antonyms
WEAK
destructive noninfluential


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Aged 11, he impressed in a trial with Real Madrid, but returned home anyway, a decision he calls one of the most formative of his life.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

A formative introduction to the internet’s tenuous rules for engagement happened when I was 13.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026

And thanks to his keen eye and meticulous attention to detail, we’re granted the privilege of sharing these rich, formative experiences with him—at a comfortable remove.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

But the whole time I wanted to go, “Get out of here! Go, go! This is formative years.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

They'll ask me to tell them about some of the formative experiences in my life.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin




Vocabulary lists containing formative