adjectival

[ aj-ik-tahy-vuhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or used as an adjective.
2. describing by means of many adjectives; depending for effect on intensive qualification of subject matter, as a writer, style, or essay.

Other Words From

• adjec·tival·ly adverb
• nonad·jec·tival adjective
• nonad·jec·tival·ly adverb
• pread·jec·tival adjective
• pread·jec·tival·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of adjectival¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; adjective + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Dederer is continually trying — not in the adjectival sense, but as the present participle: showing us her thought process, correcting as she goes and experimenting with different forms.

From New York Times

Many verb and adjectival forms being feminine, regular mention of captivity, and recurring names - such as Walsingham - all put them on the trail of Mary.

From BBC

They complain that some playwrights, like Pinter, got the classier adjectival ending “-esque” even as they each wound up with “-ian.”

From New York Times

“Children are a crushing responsibility,” Leda tells Callie at one point, Colman’s steady gaze and adjectival emphasis only heightening her character’s allure.

From New York Times

In one unbelievable Olympic week, he drained what cynical souls once claimed was the inexhaustible adjectival fount of the sports writers.

From Washington Times