expansive

adjective

ik-ˈspan(t)-siv How to pronounce expansive (audio)
Definition of expansivenext
as in extensive
having considerable extent as the river nears the end of its long journey to the sea it becomes quite expansive in breadth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 expansive Inside are 11 bedrooms and nine bathrooms, along with several living areas, a library, a historic chapel, and a billiard room; outside are expansive terraces and a large swimming pool. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026 Ballet was a starting point for Jennie’s Adidas Originals collection, with its codes translated across footwear and apparel pieces to create a more expansive and surreal world. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 28 Aug. 2026 But that decline is not even across place or institution; it has been concentrated in cities and liberal-leaning states that have implemented expansive criminal justice reforms and diversion courts. — Ella Siegrist, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 His expansive compositions were influenced by Pierre Bonnard and Matisse as well as by American folk art. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expansive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expansive
  1. extensive
  2. broad
  3. wide
  4. sweeping
  5. deep
Adjective
  • Chinese state media, including the Communist Party's flagship newspaper, People's Daily, gave extensive coverage to Xi's encounters with other visiting leaders on Tuesday, but made no mention of the meeting with Pezeshkian.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Neal's research includes extensive work on female astronauts.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of extensive
Adjective
  • Blakespear said the definition was broad enough to encompass a wide range of heavy industrial uses, including chemical, plastics and pesticide manufacturing and strip mining.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The e-commerce giant is preparing to launch its Prime Air service in Tracy as part of a broader expansion effort that will bring delivery drones to 500 cities and towns by the end of the year.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of broad
Adjective
  • The Iran war exposed just how much the world relied on a narrow 20-mile-wide waterway.
    — Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Not only do the gods have multiple heads and arms, but the gods themselves are multiple, appearing in different forms with an array of different names, and with a wide variety of stories told about them.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of wide
Adjective
  • Under his ownership, Vermejo became a sweeping ecological restoration project.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Ride powerful ATVs across vast stretches of black-sand beaches, or set out on snowmobiles across sweeping glaciers.
    — Gwen Nicol, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of sweeping
Adjective
  • Core aerators remove plugs about 2 to 4 inches deep and around 1/2-inch wide, and spaced about 2 to 6 inches apart, dropping them on the lawn surface.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Lovano expressed deep gratitude to Collins for steering the festival for many years and keeping the atmosphere alive.
    — Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of deep

Browse Nearby Words

expansions
expansive
ex parte
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expansive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expansive. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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