evocative

[ ih-vok-uh-tiv, ih-voh-kuh- ]

adjective

1. tending to evoke:

   The perfume was evocative of spring.

evocative

/ ɪˈvɒkətɪv /

adjective

1. tending or serving to evoke

Derived Forms

• eˈvocatively, adverb
• eˈvocativeness, noun

Other Words From

• e·voca·tive·ly adverb
• e·voca·tive·ness noun
• none·voca·tive adjective
• une·voca·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of evocative¹

1650–60; < Latin ēvocātīvus, equivalent to ēvocāt ( us ) ( evoke, -ate ¹ ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

Your documentaries are known for their evocative archive footage and music.

From Time

The writing is smart and evocative, and Miller’s characters are finely drawn.

From Outside Online

Candles bring light, warmth, and room for contemplation, and their scents can be emotionally evocative.

From Popular-Science

This version of events had been reported by some early Christian writers, including an evocative story of the scrolls being fuel for the thousands of hot baths in the city.

From Time

Deep, evocative on-the-ground reporting, sharp analysis and terrific visual presentation of data create a powerful picture of the oil and petrochemical industries’ impact on Louisiana’s people and environment.

From ProPublica

“We look for the qualities that are evocative of V.S.O.P Privilege,” explained Hennessy Senior Vice President Rodney Williams.

From The Daily Beast

Another evocative term was coined a few years later, in 1995.

From The Daily Beast

Even his name is a nom de guerre: Before launching the Temple, he went by the somewhat less evocative Doug Mesner.

From The Daily Beast

Both are literally depictions of magical air, evocative of movement and potency stirring inside a writhing cloud.

From The Daily Beast

After Hurricane Sandy, the NWS concluded that it should use similarly evocative language for storm-surge warnings.

From The Daily Beast

Had he so soon forgotten that strange union of form and sound which once was known to the evocative rituals of olden days?

From Project Gutenberg

His verse is very evocative; in several syllables he forces his vision on us.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a sound, he realized in a flash, evocative and summoning.

From Project Gutenberg

What matter, then, if Michelet was the least trustworthy of historians since he was the most personal and the most evocative?

From Project Gutenberg

What could be more evocative of Salome than her kneeling before Julien's severed head?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• expressive
• reminiscent