backward-looking

adjective

Definition of backward-lookingnext
as in nostalgic

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backward-looking The backward-looking sound sometimes pushes the band toward exciting switch-ups. — Victoria Borlando, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026 Since the 2008 financial crisis, virtually every major piece of legislation – from Dodd-Frank to subsequent banking reforms – has been backward-looking, designed to address past crises rather than prepare for the next frontier. — Patrick McHenry, Fortune, 16 July 2026 Jeremy Porter, chief economist at First Street, said the backward-looking models are not correcting for climate and for all the sources of risk. — Diana Olick, CNBC, 18 June 2026 As a result, Moyn says, the country’s fate and character are being determined not by forward-looking people in their youth or their prime but by backward-looking ones in the final third of their lives. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for backward-looking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward-looking
  1. nostalgic
  2. retrospective
  3. introspective
  4. philosophical
  5. analytic
Adjective
  • Versions of it exist across South Asia and beyond, each one slightly different but speaking the same nostalgic language.
    — Rachel Gurjar, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Handmade props and stop-motion animation give the magical realism a tactile quality, while nostalgic details deepen the story’s exploration of yearning.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of nostalgic
Adjective
  • Now titled Crosscut Asia+, the section will screen three recent festival hits, Four Seasons In Java, Filipiñana and Becoming Human, along with a selection of retrospective titles.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The study was retrospective and observational, meaning researchers examined how outcomes differed among participants over time.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of retrospective
Adjective
  • The story is told from the perspective of infant twins with divergent personalities—Rose is unguardedly buoyant, whereas Marigold is watchful and introspective.
    — Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Thankfully, Brandon is one of Austen’s most introspective suitors, and Nordrum is not unlike the character in real life — thoughtful, gentle and a little self-effacing.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of introspective
Adjective
  • The weather rewrites your shooting schedule every morning, and there’s an almost philosophical lesson in learning to accept that without giving up.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The economist was infamous in London’s philosophical circles for arguing fervently—and, many thought, heartlessly—against poor relief.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of philosophical
Adjective
  • The analytic-minded architect who assembled so much underrated talent left for the biggest market in baseball.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Today’s high schoolers will be eligible to cast their first ballots within a year or two, and those who have been exposed to economics will have stronger analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
    — Julie Weaver, Baltimore Sun, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of analytic

Browse Nearby Words

backward
backward-looking
backwash
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Cite this Entry

“Backward-looking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward-looking. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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