as in relative
being such only when compared to something else
if you consider the multimillionaire's yearly income, we're living in comparative poverty
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Recent Examples of comparative
Led by comparative cognition postdoctoral candidate Christoph Völter, researchers introduced various communication scenarios to dogs to learn the answer.
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Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 Feb. 2025
Before the mission, both men had agreed to participate in a comparative study of their bodies—Mark from Earth, Scott from space and Earth.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
As a byproduct of the NCAA’s decision, the USHL lost the comparative advantage of D-1 eligibility over the CHL.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2025
The comparative quiet contrasts sharply with the white-knuckled fury of the inaugural rally as large crowds shouted demands over megaphones and marched in pink pussyhats in response to Trump's first election win.
—Lindsay Whitehurst, arkansasonline.com, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comparative
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 Feb. 2025
Before the mission, both men had agreed to participate in a comparative study of their bodies—Mark from Earth, Scott from space and Earth.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
As a byproduct of the NCAA’s decision, the USHL lost the comparative advantage of D-1 eligibility over the CHL.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2025
The comparative quiet contrasts sharply with the white-knuckled fury of the inaugural rally as large crowds shouted demands over megaphones and marched in pink pussyhats in response to Trump's first election win.
—Lindsay Whitehurst, arkansasonline.com, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comparative
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Cite this Entry
“Comparative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comparative. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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