retrograde
adjective
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Definition of retrograde
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a(1) : having or being motion in a direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies and especially east to west among the stars Saturn is retrograde for another week
(2) : having or being a direction of rotation or revolution that is clockwise as viewed from the north pole of the sky or a planet a retrograde orbit
b : moving, occurring, or performed in a backward direction
c : occurring or performed in a direction opposite to the normal or forward direction of conduction or flow: such as
(1) : occurring along nerve cell processes toward the cell body retrograde degeneration of nerve fibers — compare anterograde sense 1a
(2) : occurring opposite to the normal direction or path of blood circulation retrograde blood flow in veins with incompetent valves — compare anterograde sense 1b
d : contrary to the normal order : inverse
2 : tending toward or resulting in a worse or previous state
3 archaic : contradictory, opposed
4 : characterized by retrogression
5 : affecting memories of a period prior to a precipitating event (such as brain injury or disease) retrograde amnesia — compare anterograde sense 2
6 : retro retrograde fashion
retrograde
adverbretrograde
verbDefinition of retrograde (Entry 3 of 3)
archaic : to turn back : reverse
1a : to go back : retreat
b : to go back over or recapitulate something
2 : to decline to a worse condition
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Synonyms & Antonyms for retrograde
Synonyms: Adjective
Synonyms: Verb
atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress, rot, sink, worsen
Antonyms: Verb
ameliorate, improve, meliorate
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Examples of retrograde in a Sentence
Adjective
a retrograde policy that would leave more people poorer than they are now retrograde pedaling will engage the brakes on that bikeVerb
the Dark Ages, the period following the fall of the Roman Empire when Western civilization seriously retrograded
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
With the retrograde Mars, intimacy exploration will have greater lure than loud parties. — Rebecca Gordon, Harper's BAZAAR, "How to Find Summer Romance According to the Stars," 21 June 2018 Don’t forget that Mars is still retrograde until August 27, so take action in bite-sized chunks. — Jodie Layne, Teen Vogue, "Lunar Eclipse 2018: What You Need to Know," 3 July 2018 Mars retrograde officially began on June 26 and will end on August 27, so brace yourself for just over two months of this type of energy in your life. — Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, "How Mars Retrograde Will Affect Your Love Life and Career This Summer," 2 July 2018 But to some, the choice reveals how retrograde the royal wedding really is. — Anna North, Vox, "For many feminists, Meghan Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry is — like so many weddings — a mixed bag.," 15 May 2018 Barrel racing is the only women’s event regularly featured at PRCA tournaments; the contestants are still called cowgirls, a reflection of the somewhat retrograde values that cling to the rodeo world. — Melissa Lyttle, Smithsonian, "The First Family of Rodeo," 13 Dec. 2017 Pleasure planet Venus travels from glittery heart-on-sleeve Leo into the more intricate, witchy woods of Virgo, and Virgo’s ruler Mercury stations retrograde at the end of the month. — Bess Matassa, Teen Vogue, "Monthly Lovescopes July 2018," 2 July 2018 Work with the retrograde’s energy by engaging in some serious thought and reflection. — Claire Comstock-gay, The Cut, "How Much Will Mars Retrograde Ruin My Life?," 26 June 2018 His racial views were complex, neither radical nor retrograde. — Charles Finch, USA TODAY, "Two new books reflect on why 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' and Atticus Finch, matter so much," 25 June 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Retrogrades cause the areas ruled by the planet in question to flip upside down and go all wonky, which is why Mercury retrogrades cause delays in communication, as Mercury rules communication. — Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, "Oh God, April’s Full Moon in Scorpio and Jupiter Retrograde Will Occur Simultaneously on Sunday Night," 27 Apr. 2018 Bluntly speaking, Mars retrograde means a lack of energy, low libido, disinterest in hitting the gym, and a general lethargy. — Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, "How Mars Retrograde Will Affect Your Love Life and Career This Summer," 2 July 2018 When Mercury is retrograde, thought and communication are less direct, more ponderous, and meandering. — Alice Bell, Vogue, "18 Items to Brighten Your Mood During Mercury Retrograde," 6 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'retrograde.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for retrograde
retrograde
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of retrograde
: returning to an earlier and usually worse state or condition
: moving backward
See the full definition for retrograde in the English Language Learners Dictionary
retrograde
adjective
\
Medical Definition of retrograde
1 : characterized by retrogression
2 : affecting memories of a period prior to a precipitating event (as brain injury or disease) In retrograde amnesia, the victim can remember only what has happened since he lost his memory; everything before that is irretrievable. —Jean Seligmann, Newsweek, 29 Sept. 1986 — compare anterograde sense 1
3 : occurring or performed in a direction opposite to the normal or forward direction of conduction or flow: as
a : occurring along nerve cell processes toward the cell body retrograde axonal transport retrograde degeneration of nerve fibers
b : occurring opposite to the normal direction or path of blood circulation apply bandaging to the lower extremities to produce pressure to reduce retrograde blood flow in veins with incompetent valves — compare anterograde sense 2
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