Expressive/ɪkˈspresɪv/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Facial Expressions Often paired with facial features to describe how emotions are shown non-verbally. His expressive smile lit up the room. Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Sadness Expressive can describe any strong emotion, not just sadness or pain. Her expressive laughter was infectious. Pro Tip 3/3Beyond Words Refers to showing thoughts or feelings without necessarily using words. Artists use expressive brush strokes to convey their message.