prescriptive

adjective

pri-ˈskrip-tiv How to pronounce prescriptive (audio)
Definition of prescriptivenext
as in traditional
based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation even in this age of e-mail the prescriptive response to a wedding gift is a handwritten thank-you note

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 prescriptive Nilsson’s debut feature is a tender, unflinching portrait of self-performance, identity, and learning to exist as oneself in an often prescriptive world. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 21 July 2026 Loui Burke has built a following on Instagram around prescriptive bed-making guidelines. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 July 2026 Tailoring became lighter, proportions relaxed and layering more instinctive, creating wardrobes that feel versatile rather than prescriptive. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 29 June 2026 When someone openly and continuously crosses your land for years, that use can gradually become a permanent legal right called a prescriptive easement. — Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for prescriptive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prescriptive
  1. traditional
  2. customary
  3. conventional
Adjective
  • For these brands, lab-grown is in the name, and their styles are more akin to traditional natural diamond brands.
    — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the business of journalism has changed so much financially, and a third of journalists don’t work for a traditional news organization.
    — Jocelyn Noveck, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of traditional
Adjective
  • But in August, the boys went with Charles to Scotland for their customary holiday with the Windsors at Balmoral Castle.
    — Allie Merriam, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Ohtani threw a 20-pitch bullpen — shorter than his customary between-starts session — on Friday to tentatively set him up to throw the first inning Sunday.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of customary
Adjective
  • The result is a motorcycle that looks considerably more like a conventional competition dirt bike than some of the smaller electric machines that have appeared in recent years.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The approach helps explain markets such as Armenia, which would not necessarily rank near the top of a conventional fashion brand’s expansion list.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of conventional

Browse Nearby Words

prescriptions
prescriptive
prescripts
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Cite this Entry

“Prescriptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prescriptive. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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