Thesaurus results for REFORMATIVE

reformative

adjective

ri-ˈfȯr-mə-tiv

Definition of reformative

as in corrective

serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition took reformative measures to curb abuses in the state's system of justice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of reformative As part of the reformative aims of the convict system, many of these men were incarcerated at Fremantle Prison, trained, and put to work on infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, and public buildings. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025 Fifty-five years after Martin Luther King's death, African Americans continue to proudly honor his reformative legacy in Phoenix. — The Arizona Republic, 14 Jan. 2024 While the idea of hiring actors might raise some eyebrows, acting and artistry can be an important step in the reformative process, and Hemsworth suggested that the actors’ real-life experiences helped shape their on-screen characters. — Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2023 Behind the scenes, though, the bill text began not as a reformative measure, but as a company-friendly statute that would help industry avoid some regulations. — Neil Bedi, ProPublica, 14 Dec. 2022 The redemptive and reformative power of stories runs through the film, the opening shot of which contains a spare movie set, dominated by scaffolding and a camera track on the floor. — John Anderson, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2022 Moores positioned himself as the pro-police candidate compared to Stansbury's more reformative stance, reflecting national concerns about policing in the wake of killings of people of color by police and nationwide protests in favor of Black lives. — Chelsey Cox, USA TODAY, 3 June 2021 The idea, while well-intentioned, appears to be more performative than reformative. — Ellen McGirt, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reformative

Adjective

The facilities will stay closed until the review is complete and any corrective actions are addressed.

— CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which did not respond to The Bee’s inquiry, typically monitors corrective actions and audit reports.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of corrective

Adjective

Like Manson, Arguelles also went to an all-boys military reformatory school in Pasadena, Calif.

— Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
In the film about two teens in a reformatory school, the camera becomes the point-of-view of a couple of characters, while other characters look directly into the lens.

— Randee Dawn, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024

Definition of reformatory

Adjective

Determine whether the signal represents ordinary variation, beneficial adaptation, or emerging deterioration.

— Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Both receptors are common on human airway cells High levels of stimulation are detrimental, the researchers wrote, whereas moderate levels indicating small amounts of time spent in cowsheds seemed to be beneficial.

— Baltimore Sun, Boston Herald, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of beneficial

Browse Nearby Words

reformations

reformative

reformatories

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Reformative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reformative. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of reformative

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

salvo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes