What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
evocative
Example
The painting was so evocative that it brought tears to my eyes. [evocative: adjective]
Example
The music was evocative of a bygone era. [evocative: preposition]
reminiscent
Example
The smell of freshly baked bread was reminiscent of my grandmother's kitchen. [reminiscent: adjective]
Example
The movie was reminiscent of classic Hollywood films from the 1950s. [reminiscent: preposition]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Reminiscent is more commonly used than evocative in everyday language. Reminiscent is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while evocative is less common and is often used in artistic or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between evocative and reminiscent?
Both evocative and reminiscent are relatively formal words, but evocative may be slightly more formal due to its association with artistic or literary contexts.