Synonyms:
formative, shaping, plastic
Meaning: forming or capable of forming or molding or fashioning; "a formative influence"; "a formative experience"
noun
meaning of the word
Synonyms:
shaping, defining
Meaning: any process serving to define the shape of something
Usage examples
He turned upon her, lips shaping a command that she remain behind.
The Fates had indeed been shaping Pershing from boyhood for a supreme task.
In April of 1831, they recommenced trapping, shaping their course for Bear River.
All this against which he now inveighed so bitterly was but a necessary stage in the shaping of his odd destiny.
Sylvia sat in the stern beside her father, and very soon the tiller was in her hand and she was shaping the boat's course toward the forts. Grace watched her admiringly.
The other shook his head; "I don't know--I don't know, sir; I always said I didn't believe, but some things is mighty queer." He seemed to be shaping his thought for further speech, when again the girl's laugh rang clear along the mountain side.
The other lad appeared to be absorbed in shaping an arrow from the slender stick in his hand, but he watched his neighbor with a grin, saying a few words occasionally which seemed to add to his irritation, though they were in a sympathizing tone.
And thus it is that the severe and laconic bishop has so often made us shudder as he demonstrated it to us that we are all with our own hands shaping our character not only for this world, but much more for the world to come, by every act we perform, by every word we speak, almost by every breath we draw.