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emulative

emulative

1 7.0
Wanting to equal or beat someone by copying them
  • adjective
  • /ˈɛm.jə.lə.tɪv/
translation icon : emulador
  • She was emulative of her teacher's teaching style, eager to inspire her own students in the same way.

Examples

  • As a talented musician, he often felt emulative of his legendary idols, striving to match their level of artistry.

  • The young athlete's emulative spirit drove him to practice harder, hoping to surpass his more experienced competitors.

  • He can now become emulative, freed from blind, rote imitation.

    Academic text (2000)
  • This open acknowledgment of his own didacticism and his own debts to source material further highlights the emulative nature of his imitative practice.

    Academic text (2000)
  • These disparities not only reflect the role of consumption in concentrating wealth at the top of the economic ladder but also signal a problematic environment for Veblen-esque emulative consumerism.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

emulous
vsemulative
1 9.9

Having a strong wish to equal or do better than others to compete

tries to match or beat others by copying their actions

Antonyms

87 1.0

Feeling happy and satisfied with what you have

3 4.1

Not wanting to try hard to reach higher goals

How Ambitious

rivalrous
1 8.1
ambitious
128 3.7
emulative
1 7.0
aspiring
3 3.5

Surface Forms

emulative positive

Morphology

emulative = emulate (transparent) = emulate + ive

Standard adjectival formation from 'emulate' indicating a tendency or disposition to emulate, so the meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

Emulative comes from Latin aemul- meaning 'rival' or 'one who tries to equal'. So an emulative person or action tries to match or even pass someone else by copying or competing with them.