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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.

The researchers stressed that while the increased risks are statistically meaningful, the overall risk for any one patient remains low.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

District officials have previously described such cost-cutting attempts as potentially meaningful, but only marginally helpful given that employee salaries and benefits make up the vast majority of the district’s nearly $19-billion budget.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

However, the Bank was still waiting for any "meaningful data" or evidence on how the conflict was feeding through to the UK economy, or how it was going to affect prices or activity, Bailey said.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

While a request for several studies following approval of the drug is notable, “we do not expect these studies to have any meaningful impact on the competitive positioning of Lilly’s asset,” Seigerman added.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Anthony didn’t oppose marriage, but she did think that certain women could lead more meaningful lives as unmarried radicals than as wives and mothers.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Vocabulary lists containing meaningful

Power Suffix: -ful

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Very Necessary: Synonyms for "Important"

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-ful

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