Demonstrative — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /di-ˈmän(t)-strə-tiv/ de·mon·stra·tive

Meaning & Definition of Demonstrative

Demonstrative (adjective)

  1. demonstrating as real or true
  2. characterized or established by demonstration
  3. pointing out the one referred to and distinguishing it from others of the same class (as in that in "that house")

Demonstrative (noun)

  1. a word or morpheme pointing out the one referred to and distinguishing it from others of the same class, a demonstrative word or morpheme

Demonstrative (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. showing feeling freely

    "my grandmother was always very demonstrative when we visited, showering us with hugs and kisses"

    similar: effusive, emotional, touchy-feely, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained
    related: dramatic, histrionic, hyperemotional, melodramatic, theatrical, gushing, gushy, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, schmaltzy, sentimental, communicative, expansive, extroverted, outgoing, affectionate, feeling, intense, loving, passionate, sensitive, soulful, warm, blunt, candid, frank, outspoken, plain
    opposite: inhibited, reserved, restrained, undemonstrative, unemotional
    near: constrained, quiet, reticent, silent, taciturn, bashful, modest, retiring, shy, introverted, self-directed, aloof, detached, dispassionate, emotionless, impassive, indifferent, phlegmatic, stolid, unconcerned, unfeeling, chilly, cold, frigid, glacial, hard-boiled, hard-edged, hard-hearted, icy, unfriendly

  2. having or expressing great depth of feeling

    "a demonstrative welcome for the returning troops by their families and friends"

    similar: ardent, blazing, burning, charged, emotional, fervent, fervid, feverish, fiery, flaming, glowing, hot-blooded, impassioned, incandescent, intense, passional, passionate, perfervid, red-hot, religious, superheated, torrid, vehement, warm, warm-blooded, on fire
    related: gushing, gushy, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, saccharine, sappy, schmaltzy, sentimental, sloppy, sugary, histrionic, melodramatic, enthusiastic, gung ho, keen, zealous, enamored, infatuated, obsessed, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained, frenzied, orgiastic, overemotional, overexcited, overheated
    opposite: cold, cool, dispassionate, emotionless, impassive, unemotional
    near: detached, dry, impersonal, objective, reserved, undemonstrative

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Demonstrative

The most common words with a similar meaning to Demonstrative:

effusive, emotional, touchy-feely, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained, ardent, blazing, burning, charged, fervent, fervid, feverish, fiery, flaming, glowing, hot-blooded, impassioned, incandescent, intense, passional, passionate, perfervid, red-hot, religious, superheated, torrid, vehement, warm, warm-blooded, on fire

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Demonstrative

Words with the opposite meaning of Demonstrative:

inhibited, reserved, restrained, undemonstrative, unemotional, cold, cool, dispassionate, emotionless, impassive

Related Words for Demonstrative

dramatic, histrionic, hyperemotional, melodramatic, theatrical, gushing, gushy, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, schmaltzy, sentimental, communicative, expansive, extroverted, outgoing, affectionate, feeling, loving, sensitive, soulful, blunt, candid, frank, outspoken, plain, saccharine, sappy, sloppy, sugary

Near Antonyms of Demonstrative

constrained, quiet, reticent, silent, taciturn, bashful, modest, retiring, shy, introverted, self-directed, aloof, detached, indifferent, phlegmatic, stolid, unconcerned, unfeeling, chilly, frigid, glacial, hard-boiled, hard-edged, hard-hearted, icy, unfriendly, dry, impersonal, objective

Word Forms of Demonstrative

Derived words: demonstratively (adverb), demonstrativeness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Demonstrative

Middle English demonstratyf "based on logic, pointing out (of a pronoun)," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French demonstratif, borrowed from Late Latin dēmonstrātīvus "pointing out (of a pronoun), able to prove" (Latin, "displaying—in rhetoric"), from Latin dēmonstrātus, past participle of dēmonstrāre "to indicate, show, demonstrate" + -īvus -ive

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Demonstrative

What does "Demonstrative" mean?

"Demonstrative" means demonstrating as real or true. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: demonstrating as real or true. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Demonstrative"?

Other words for "Demonstrative" include effusive, emotional, touchy-feely, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained, ardent and blazing. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Demonstrative" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Demonstrative"?

There are 73 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Demonstrative". Common alternatives include effusive, emotional, touchy-feely, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained, ardent, blazing, burning and charged.

What is the opposite of "Demonstrative"?

Antonyms of "Demonstrative" include inhibited, reserved, restrained, undemonstrative, unemotional, cold, cool and dispassionate. Near antonyms include constrained, quiet, reticent and silent.

How do you use "Demonstrative" in a sentence?

Examples of "Demonstrative" in a sentence: "my grandmother was always very demonstrative when we visited, showering us with hugs and kisses"; "a demonstrative welcome for the returning troops by their families and friends".

Is "Demonstrative" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Demonstrative" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Demonstrative"?

"Demonstrative" is pronounced /di-ˈmän(t)-strə-tiv/ and divided into syllables as de·mon·stra·tive.

What is the origin of the word "Demonstrative"?

"Demonstrative" comes from Middle English demonstratyf "based on logic, pointing out (of a pronoun)," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French demonstratif, borrowed from Late Latin dēmonstrātīvus "pointing out (of a pronoun), able to prove" (Latin, "displaying—in rhetoric"), from Latin dēmonstrātus, past participle of dēmonstrāre "to indicate, show, demonstrate" + -īvus -ive. First known use: 15th century.