-ive

Usage

• abortive

  An abortive attempt or action is cut short before it is finished; hence, it is unsuccessful.

• purgative

  A purgative agent completely cleans something out.

• discursive

  A piece of writing is discursive if it includes a lot of information that is not relevant to the main subject.

• figurative

  If you use words in a figurative way, they have an abstract or symbolic meaning beyond their literal interpretation.

• substantive

  Substantive issues are the most important, serious, and real issues of a subject.

• lucrative

  If a business is lucrative, it makes a lot of money.

• tentative

  To be tentative is to be hesitant or uncertain about something.

• cognitive

  Cognitive describes those things related to judgment, memory, and other mental processes of knowing.

• reductive

  If you describe something as reductive, such as an explanation or a theory, you disapprove of it because it describes or explains something in such a simple way that it misses important details.

• effusive

  Someone who is effusive expresses happiness, pleasure, admiration, praise, etc., in an extremely enthusiastic way.

• acquisitive

  When you are acquisitive, you are driven to pursue and own wealth and possessions—often in a greedy fashion.

• pervasive

  If something is pervasive, it appears to be everywhere.

• impassive

  If someone is impassive, they are not showing any emotion.

• introspective

  If someone is introspective, they spend a lot of time examining their own feelings, thoughts, or ideas.

• incisive

  If an idea or thought is incisive, it is expressed in a penetrating and knowledgeable manner that is clear and brief; additionally, it can demonstrate impressive understanding of related ideas or thoughts.

• putative

  Something putative is supposed to be real; for example, a putative leader is one who everyone assumes is the leader—even though they may not be in reality.

• pensive

  If you are pensive, you are deeply thoughtful, often in a sad and/or serious way.

• pejorative

  A pejorative word, phrase, or expression expresses a bad opinion of someone or something.

• delusive

  Something that is delusive deceives you by giving a false belief about yourself or the situation you are in.

• unobtrusive

  If someone acts in an unobtrusive way, their actions are not easily noticed and do not stand out in any way.

• objective

  If someone is objective, they base their opinions on facts rather than personal feelings or beliefs.

• divisive

  Something that is divisive is likely to cause arguments between people.

• abrasive

  Someone who has an abrasive manner is unkind and rude, wearing away at you in an irritating fashion.

• furtive

  If someone behaves in a furtive way, they do things sneakily and secretly in order to avoid being noticed.

• curative

  Something that has curative properties can be used for curing people's illnesses.

• missive

  A missive is a written letter, especially a formal, legal, or important one.

• palliative

  A palliative action makes a bad situation seem better; nevertheless, it does not actually solve the problem.

• plaintive

  A plaintive sound or voice expresses sadness.

• punitive

  A punitive action is intended to punish someone.

• restive

  A restive person is not willing or able to keep still or be patient because they are bored or dissatisfied with something; consequently, they are becoming difficult to control.

• assertive

  When you act in an assertive fashion, you know what you want and strongly persist in getting it.

• cohesive

  A cohesive argument sticks together, working as a consistent, unified whole.

• conducive

  A conducive agent is something that is favorable or helpful in getting something to happen.

• definitive

  A definitive opinion on an issue cannot be challenged; therefore, it is the final word or the most authoritative pronouncement on that issue.

• derivative

  A derivative is something borrowed from something else, such as an English word that comes from another language.

• directive

  When you are given a directive, you are given an instruction or order that directs you to do something.

• disincentive

  A disincentive to do something does not encourage you to do that thing; rather, it restrains and hinders you from doing it.

• expansive

  Something expansive has a wide scope or is extensive in area.

• formative

  Something that is formative shapes or influences the growth of something else.

• imperative

  When it is imperative that something be done, it is absolutely necessary or very important that it indeed be accomplished.

• impulsive

  If you act in an impulsive fashion, you tend to do things without thinking about them beforehand in a way that is not predictable.

• inconclusive

  If the results of something are inconclusive, they are uncertain or provide no final answers.

• inductive

  Inductive reasoning involves the observation of data to arrive at a general conclusion or principle.

• inquisitive

  If you are inquisitive, you are eager to learn and highly curious—sometimes too much so.

• intrusive

  An intrusive person intrudes, butts in, or interferes where they are not welcome.

• invective

  If you hurl invective at another person, you are verbally abusing or highly criticizing them.

• prerogative

  Your prerogative is your right or privilege to do something.

• repulsive

  Something that is repulsive is offensive, highly unpleasant, or just plain disgusting.

• subjective

  A subjective opinion is not based upon facts or hard evidence; rather, it rests upon someone's personal feelings or beliefs about a matter or concern.

• subversive

  A subversive act is undertaken usually to overthrow or do significant harm to a government or other institution.

• superlative

  Something that is superlative, such as an act or deed, is excellent, outstanding, or simply the best.

• vindictive

  If you are vindictive, you want to take revenge upon someone who has done something bad to you.

• apprehensive

  When you are apprehensive about a future event, you are nervous or fearful about it.

• evasive

  When you are being evasive, you are trying to avoid trouble or not give a direct answer to a question.

• illustrative

  An illustrative example serves to explain or describe something, often by providing pictures.

• cumulative

  A cumulative process builds, increases, or grows slowly over time.

• distinctive

  A distinctive trait of someone sets them apart from everyone else; it is what makes them different or unique.

• submissive

  When someone is submissive, they are highly obedient or inclined to give in to the demands of others.

• indicative

  If something is indicative of something else, it suggests it or shows it in some way.

• vituperative

  Vituperative remarks are full of hate, anger, and cruel criticism.

• negative

  Something negative is not good in some way or can signal a *no* about something.

• aggressive

  Someone who is aggressive is likely to attack someone or something—or is a person who really wants to win and thus is highly and energetically competitive.

• active

  Someone who is active is full of movement or is energetic and lively.

• consecutive

  Consecutive events happen one right after the other with no breaks in between.

• native

  Someone who is native to a country was born there or has a talent or ability which is natural to them.

• attractive

  If someone or something is attractive, they or it is good-looking, interesting, and/or pleasing in appearance.

• expensive

  Something expensive costs a lot of money or has a high price.

• attentive

  If you are attentive in the classroom, you are very aware of what is going on because you are focused on what the teacher is telling you.

• alternative

  An alternative to something is an other or different choice that is offered in addition to one you already have.

• positive

  If you are positive about something, you are either very sure about it or you are feeling good about it—or both.