# suggestive

/səˈdʒɛstɪv/ (US) · /sədʒˈɛstɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/suggestive
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. evoking an idea

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

making you think of a particular thing or idea without saying it directly.

For teachers: tending to suggest or evoke a particular idea, memory, or association through indirect means.

- The dark clouds were suggestive of a coming storm.
- The archaeological findings were highly suggestive of a complex social hierarchy that predated the arrival of the colonial powers.

### 3. psychological suggestion

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

relating to the power of suggestion, especially in hypnosis.

For teachers: pertaining to or stimulating the process of psychological suggestion, particularly in a clinical or hypnotic context.

- The therapist used suggestive techniques to help the patient relax.
- The study examined how suggestive questioning could inadvertently alter the witness's recollection of the event during the interview process.

## Examples

- The painting uses suggestive colors to create a dark mood.
- The manager was disciplined after making several suggestive comments that made his colleagues feel uncomfortable during the meeting.
- While the evidence is merely suggestive rather than conclusive, it points toward a significant correlation between early childhood nutrition and long-term cognitive development.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.