evocative
ih-VOK-uh-tiv
/ɪˈvɒk.ə.tɪv/
Bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind.
Describes something (art, music, scent) that acts as a powerful catalyst to summon vivid mental pictures.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'evocare', meaning literally 'to call out' or 'summon forth' spirits or memories from the dark into light.
Word relationships
- reminiscent: Reminiscent points directly to a specific past item; evocative summons general atmospheric feelings or vivid imagery.
- expressive: Expressive shows emotion outward; evocative summons memories or moods inward.
- bland: Bland lacks character and fails to summon any vivid images or feelings.
Commonly confused with
- provocative: Provocative provokes action or controversy; evocative summons memories or moods.
Word family
- evoke (verb): To summon or bring out memories or emotions.
- evocation (noun): The act of bringing something to mind.
Collocations
- evocative imagery
- evocative description
- evocative of
- deeply evocative
Idioms & expressions
- paint a picture with words
Example sentences
- "The author's evocative prose brought the ancient city vividly back to life." Literary analysis
- "The violin solo was deeply evocative of a stormy night at sea." Music criticism
Memory hook
EVOCATIVE = VOCALizes or calls out buried memories. E-voke = Call out memories.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'provocative', which aims to incite anger, sexual desire, or controversy.
Fun facts
- In ancient Roman religion, 'evocatio' was a ritual summoning the patron deities of an enemy city to abandon them.
Related words
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