Intentive
What it means
Closely attentive or directed toward a purpose.
Reach for it when using a rare term for concentrated, purposeful attention
The intentive listener noticed where the witness became uncertain.
Words to choose between 5
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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everyday
Fits when careful notice of another person or task is the main quality
Careful Attentive is familiar and may lack the purposeful concentration of intentive.
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warm
absorbed
Fits when interest holds attention so fully that surroundings recede
Careful Absorbed may mean unavailable to other people and not purposefully observant.
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professional
Fits when attention remains on the relevant goal
Careful Focused can exclude peripheral signals that an attentive person should notice.
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formal
Fits when concentration is visibly fixed on one object
Careful Intent sounds severe when the attention is considerate listening.
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literary
Fits when careful attention includes respect for warnings or advice
Careful Heedful is old-fashioned and narrower than general intentive concentration.
Opposites 3
- inattentive
- distracted
- heedless
Common phrases 3
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intentive gaze
Her intentive gaze stayed on the fine crack as the load increased.
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intentive listener
An intentive listener leaves room for a speaker to correct the question.
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intentive study
Intentive study revealed a repeated mark beneath the later paint.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated