as in philosophical
given to or marked by reflection of the past
Her book takes a retrospective look at the actor's long and distinguished career.
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Recent Examples of retrospective
State officials emphasize that Phase 1 currently includes physician review of every prescription, but the program’s design phases that review out once volume and safety benchmarks are met, moving first to retrospective audits and then to random-sample checks.
—
Alon Bergman, STAT, 11 May 2026
The festival will also feature Bi Gan Blues from April 29 to May 3 — a retrospective program comprising six of his works.
—Rino Lu, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Amid archival research for the songwriter’s 2010 career retrospective box set, On the Rural Route 7609, it was revealed that the two American kids raised in the heartland are an interracial couple.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
That retrospective orientation is inherent to the model.
—Andrew S. Boutros, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrospective
Alon Bergman, STAT, 11 May 2026
The festival will also feature Bi Gan Blues from April 29 to May 3 — a retrospective program comprising six of his works.
—Rino Lu, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Amid archival research for the songwriter’s 2010 career retrospective box set, On the Rural Route 7609, it was revealed that the two American kids raised in the heartland are an interracial couple.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
That retrospective orientation is inherent to the model.
—Andrew S. Boutros, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrospective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrospective
Adjective
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One of the film’s biggest reflections involves a heady discourse on dialectical materialism, a complicated philosophical principle based on how opposing forces and contradictions fuel change.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
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Aside from the snail’s contributions to modern armor and material sciences, Copley says, there are philosophical reasons to preserve the future of a creature that lives in an environment as alien and inaccessible to humans as any ecosystem on our planet.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Mary Ann says her customers have similar nostalgic experiences here.—
Chelsea Brasted,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
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Even the rhythms of the editing feel very 1990s, which no doubt help this appeal to older millennial dads nostalgic for their wilder years.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper is known for his introspective lyrics that tackle political and social themes.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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While Kendrick Lamar was conquering the hip-hop world, Rashad was honing an introspective style inspired by Southern hip-hop pioneers like Lil Wayne and OutKast.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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The demonstration of this learning outcome might be a standard analytical paper on a poem.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
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Forty-five percent mentioned machine learning as the analytical backbone for prediction, forecasting, and decision intelligence.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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There’s also a spacious indoor area filled with educational toys and games, and the friendly staff facilitate thoughtful activities like Nautical Knot Tying, Anguillan Boat Racing, nature walks, steel drum lessons, and sports including soccer, basketball, volleyball, and pickleball.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
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Instead of approaching pre-season cleaning as a frantic clear-out, experts suggest embracing thoughtful edits, a natural flow, and season-less updates that make a home feel lighter, more timeless and deeply personal.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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The activity is not unlike the way US and Soviet submarines tailed one another in the Cold War, but instead of running silent and running deep, highly reflective satellites easily stand out against the inky blackness of space.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
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The room and exhibition were rooted in vibrant yellow and orange hues, reflective of the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa, believed to be the birthplace of modern humankind.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrospective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrospective. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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