Receptive
What it means
Willing to listen, consider, or respond to something new.
Reach for it when praising someone for giving an idea, feeling, or piece of feedback a fair hearing
The director was receptive to a junior designer's simpler solution.
Words to choose between 8
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional |
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| formal |
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everyday
Fits when freedom from fixed opinions is the central quality
Careful A receptive listener may still hold strong views after hearing the evidence.
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everyday
Fits when consent to act matters more than thoughtful consideration
Careful Willing can describe immediate agreement, while receptive stops short of commitment.
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warm
accepting
Fits when welcome extends to a person or reality without judgment
Careful For a debatable idea, accepting sounds like endorsement rather than fair consideration.
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warm
Fits when others feel comfortable bringing ideas or concerns
Careful Accessibility says nothing about how the person responds after the conversation begins.
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warm
Fits when a learner welcomes instruction and correction
Careful Do not apply it to a peer considering proposals; the teacher-student frame may patronize.
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professional
Fits when careful listening is observable
Careful Attention does not ensure that the person is open to changing course.
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professional
Fits when the person acts helpfully on what they hear
Careful Receptive is the safer choice before any action or reply has occurred.
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formal
Fits when someone is likely to agree or cooperate
Careful It can imply easy influence, so avoid it when independent evaluation deserves praise.
Opposites 3
- closed-minded
- dismissive
- resistant
Common phrases 3
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receptive audience
The receptive audience stayed afterward to ask careful questions.
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receptive to feedback
Mina was receptive to feedback without surrendering her design judgment.
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receptive mood
A quiet walk put both neighbors in a receptive mood for the conversation.
Word family 2
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: I learned some phrases, British accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated