as in interpretative
serving to explain
the explanatory section has as its heading "What the New Tax Changes Mean"
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Recent Examples of explanatory
As the ceremony went on, his material focused on mocking things that undermine respect for the movies with bits about ads interrupting streaming movies, vertical video, and overly explanatory movie dialogue.
—
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Consciousness becomes analogous to a number, a structure, or a pattern — an abstract noun — and its defining feature, the first-person feeling, slips through our explanatory cracks.
—Conor Feehly, Big Think, 10 Mar. 2026
Longhorns insider David Eckert won in the explanatory category for a story about how climate change affects early-season football games.
—Sports Editor, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 2026
His films eschew traditional documentary techniques such as explanatory voice-over and talking-head interviews, and his presence isn’t acknowledged by on-camera subjects.
—Vikram Murthi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explanatory
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Consciousness becomes analogous to a number, a structure, or a pattern — an abstract noun — and its defining feature, the first-person feeling, slips through our explanatory cracks.
—Conor Feehly, Big Think, 10 Mar. 2026
Longhorns insider David Eckert won in the explanatory category for a story about how climate change affects early-season football games.
—Sports Editor, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 2026
His films eschew traditional documentary techniques such as explanatory voice-over and talking-head interviews, and his presence isn’t acknowledged by on-camera subjects.
—Vikram Murthi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explanatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explanatory
Adjective
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Emmie’s condition is an interpretative riddle for both her parents and the reader.—
Giles Harvey,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Will the academy troll Chalamet (and the rest of us) with an interpretative dance performance?—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The plan is to turn the station into an interpretive center, where people can learn about the family’s story and the stories of Black travelers during Jim Crow.—
Jonathan Bullington,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Barbie Zelizer refers to the place where meanings are constructed, shared, and redefined as the interpretive community of journalism.—
Florian Wintterlin,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That’s illustrative, not guaranteed, and real returns will vary with market conditions.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
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But last night was illustrative of his season so far.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explanatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explanatory. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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