impressive

adjective

im·​pres·​sive im-ˈpre-siv How to pronounce impressive (audio)
Synonyms of impressive
: making or tending to make a marked impression : having the power to excite attention, awe, or admiration
an impressive display of skill
impressively adverb
impressiveness noun

Synonyms of impressive

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moving, impressive, poignant, affecting, touching, pathetic mean having the power to produce deep emotion.

moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Examples of impressive in a Sentence

He has an impressive vocabulary for a 10-year-old. Her first performance was very impressive. He has an impressive manner.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rookie Daniel Susac hit a two-run home run and had three RBIs, and Robbie Ray pitched six impressive innings to win his seventh straight decision and lead the San Francisco Giants to a 4-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night. — CBS News, 31 July 2026 Murray hit Addison over the middle in traffic, then McCarthy angled an impressive ball into Jeshaun Jones’ hands in a void near the sideline. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 30 July 2026 While custom living room shelving houses an impressive book collection, the kitchen is stocked with all the essentials needed to prepare meals of any scale. — Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 30 July 2026 The results reported Wednesday night are arguably even more impressive than the prior quarter, especially considering the elevated gas prices that squeezed household budgets during the three months ended in June. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for impressive

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impressive was in 1775

Rhymes for impressive

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Browse Nearby Words

impressionistic
impressive
impressively
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Cite this Entry

“Impressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impressive. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

impressive

adjective
im·​pres·​sive im-ˈpres-iv How to pronounce impressive (audio)
: having the power to impress the mind or feelings
an impressive speech
impressively adverb
impressiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on impressive

Nglish: Translation of impressive for Spanish Speakers

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