SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
instructive
adjective
Providing a useful lesson or clearer understanding.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
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Providing understanding
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topInstructive experiences teach something, including unsuccessful attempts; informative material mainly supplies information.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See instructive in use
The failed prototype was instructive because it revealed a weak joint.
The repair club needed a competent instructor who could use the sewing machine reliably and explain its basic controls. An instructive demonstration showed both a crooked seam and the adjustment that made the next seam straighter.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license