propulsive

adjective

pro·​pul·​sive prə-ˈpəl-siv How to pronounce propulsive (audio)
: tending or having power to propel
propulsive force

Examples of propulsive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The scenic setting and propulsive pace are effective cues to turn off one’s brain, but the emotional foundation is solid enough for its central family to resonate as real people, however soapy their struggles may seem. Alison Herman, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 But the cast, while extremely likable, were not super propulsive. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2023 These have balanced cushion front to back and an easy heel-to-toe roll that feels propulsive without being overly bouncy. Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2024 But that animating idea is also a problem because aside from Jason Robert Brown’s typically propulsive songs, which excite even the most absurd moments of Jonathan Marc Sherman’s book, the engine of the story, set in the 1990s, depends on uncertainty about Ethan’s veracity. Jesse Green, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 While the musical largely follows the same beats as the movie (and the 1958 teleplay it was based on), Lucas challenged himself to prune the plot to its bare essentials and craft a show so propulsive that the audience can’t dwell on its despondence. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024 The brash and propulsive pop punk the band engineered and perfected in the mid-nineties is omnipresent now. Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2024 Whoopi Goldberg shines in this propulsive, infectiously upbeat comedy as a singer who hides out in a convent after witnessing a mob hit. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 21 Jan. 2024 The booster returned for a precision propulsive landing a short distance from the launch pad, and Blue Origin's capsule deployed three parachutes to settle onto the desert floor, completing a 10-minute up-and-down flight. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 19 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'propulsive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin prōpulsus, past participle of prōpellere "to push or thrust forward, compel to go onward" + -ive — more at propel

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of propulsive was in 1648

Dictionary Entries Near propulsive

Cite this Entry

“Propulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propulsive. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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