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as in retro
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time
the loft's retrograde decor seeks to capture the look and feel of the swinging '60s
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the Dark Ages, the period following the fall of the Roman Empire when Western civilization seriously retrograded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in counterclockwise
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of retrograde
Maressa Brown, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
The booster, designated B1101, performed a retrograde burn and successfully returned to Earth, landing at LZ-40.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026
As Mercury stations retrograde in your sign, confidence wavers and old narratives resurface, tempting you to retreat or overexplain.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrograde
Adjective
While Mercury is retrograde for the first time in 2026, from February 25-26 (PT/ET) to March 20, you’ll be pulled backward, urged to rest, recharge, and revise a particular area of your life—with an eye toward healing, self-compassion, and spirituality.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
The booster, designated B1101, performed a retrograde burn and successfully returned to Earth, landing at LZ-40.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
Among these were melodic concepts like inversion (flipping a tune), transposition (shifting it up or down scales), retrograding (reversal), and translation (movement over time).
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026
As Mercury stations retrograde in your sign, confidence wavers and old narratives resurface, tempting you to retreat or overexplain.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrograde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrograde
Adjective
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Going to space is harsh on the human body, and as a new study from our research team finds, the brain shifts upward and backward and deforms inside the skull after spaceflight.—
Rachael Seidler,
Space.com,
7 Mar. 2026
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This backward incentive pushes patients toward the drugs that helped fuel the opioid epidemic in the first place.—
Saul Anuzis,
Boston Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This retro treat never goes out of style as far as we're concerned.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
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For an artist whose hits have leaned heavily into funk-pop anthems and retro-modern grooves, opening his first solo album in a decade with a bolero is an unexpected statement — but a fearless embrace of his cultural and artistic heritage.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their goal was to get control over their local water supply like their neighbors, in order to upgrade deteriorating infrastructure and rein in rising water rates.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
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The turtle slows, more organisms attach, and the animal’s condition deteriorates.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Because air swirls counterclockwise around low-pressure systems, Cook says, the alignment will sweep frigid air deep into the central U.S. next Sunday and, from there, into the southeastern states next Monday and Tuesday.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
7 Nov. 2025
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The steel case is topped with a 12-sided ceramic unidirectional bezel that provides a firm grip and a solid, quiet motion when rotating it counterclockwise.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For spring 2026, the Moon Shoe gets a color palette cleanser—with pale pastel pink, creamy white, and dusty brown tones—departing from the first drop’s vintage athletic feel, spotted on everyone from Dua Lipa to Jacob Elordi, since late September.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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Perhaps most famously, Gosling rocked three vintage gold Carreras at once while playing Ken in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Our subsequent Nora movie nights had to be spaced apart because a pall descended and lingered for days after them.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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As the summer air thickens with diffused sunlight and harsh humidity, a psychological fog descends on our young protagonist.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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More dinosaur bones, figurines and paleontological touches share space with antique hardwood furniture in the lobby area, along with the usual hotel signage and amenities.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
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The blue-and-white trimmings, terracotta floor, toile room divider, and plethora of antique wood furniture give it a distinct look; extra-tall ceilings make the whole thing feel grand.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Scientists disagree on whether these young trees will mature into forest giants or decline due to drought and a warming climate.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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But exactly how the tragedy unfolded has remained unclear and the Pentagon has declined comment, saying the investigation remains ongoing.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrograde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrograde. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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