Definitions

meaningful

[mee-ning-fuhl] / ˈmi nɪŋ fəl /

ADJECTIVE

significant

Synonyms

STRONGEST

consequential essential important purposeful relevant serious substantial useful valid worthwhile

WEAK

allusive big clear concise considerable deep eloquent exact explicit expressive heavy indicative intelligible material momentous pointed pregnant sententious succinct suggestive weighty

Antonyms

STRONGEST

insignificant little minor nonessential small trivial unimportant unsubstantial worthless

WEAK

meaningless useless

Usage

What are other ways to say meaningful? When describing forms of expression, the adjectives meaningful and significant imply an underlying and unexpressed thought whose existence is plainly shown although its precise nature is left to conjecture. Meaningful implies a secret and intimate understanding between the persons involved: Meaningful looks passed between them. Significant suggests conveying important or hidden meaning: On hearing this statement, he gave the officers a significant glance. Expressive suggests conveying, or being capable of conveying, a thought, intention, emotion, etc., in an effective or vivid manner: an expressive gesture. Suggestive implies an indirect or covert conveying of a meaning, sometimes mentally stimulating, sometimes verging on impropriety or indecency: a suggestive story or remark.

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.

See Examples For:

meaningful

He’s not wrong that it’s a meaningful factor.

From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026

Repeated across millions of interactions, modest savings could become meaningful.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

"Stress responses are fundamentally adaptive and can help you form strong memories -- but this is specific to experiences that you find to be emotionally intense or meaningful," Goldfarb said.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026