1
as in memory
a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered his reminiscences about the war were painful to hear

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2
as in recollection
the power or process of recalling what has been previously learned or experienced we wondered whether she could trust her reminiscence of events that happened so long ago

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How is the word reminiscence distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of reminiscence are memory, recollection, and remembrance. While all these words mean "the capacity for or the act of remembering, or the thing remembered," reminiscence suggests the recalling of usually pleasant incidents, experiences, or feelings from a remote past.

my grandmother's reminiscences of her Iowa girlhood

In what contexts can memory take the place of reminiscence?

While the synonyms memory and reminiscence are close in meaning, memory applies both to the power of remembering and to what is remembered.

gifted with a remarkable memory
that incident was now just a distant memory

When would recollection be a good substitute for reminiscence?

Although the words recollection and reminiscence have much in common, recollection adds an implication of consciously bringing back to mind often with some effort.

after a moment's recollection he produced the name

Where would remembrance be a reasonable alternative to reminiscence?

The meanings of remembrance and reminiscence largely overlap; however, remembrance applies to the act of remembering or the fact of being remembered.

any remembrance of his deceased wife was painful

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 reminiscence Izzy’s brief accounts of other incidents, whether a confrontation with Ferd or a reminiscence about a lost son, tend to dissolve into ellipses. Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 13 June 2025 Also posted is a reminiscence by Asawa’s granddaughter Lilli Lanier, who grew up nearby. Robert Taylor, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025 There were also reminiscences from some of the people who were closest to Jones, including his two of his first cousins, Terry Connolly and Tracy Connley Johnson. Derrick Bryson Taylor, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 Even Rolex’s first new family in over a decade, the Oyster Perpetual Land Dweller, is a reminiscence of the Oysterquartz of 1977, explained Kristian Haagen, founder of TimeGeeks. Stéphane Jg Girod, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reminiscence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reminiscence
Noun
  • The couple, who began dating in April 2023, have frequently toasted their relationship highlights and shared milestone memories on Instagram.
    Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 14 July 2025
  • Using cannabis before age 25 may also harm the developing brain, potentially affecting memory, attention, and decision-making.3 Moreover, today’s cannabis is far more potent than what older users remember, said Ziva Cooper, PhD, research director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.
    Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • The book seeks to answer this query by recasting personal writing as a conversation between recollection and amnesia.
    Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025
  • Invoking Pettis Norman’s name might summon recollections of Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick, who transferred from Second Ward High School to Myers Park to break the city’s color line and whose football prowess later led to the desegregation of the Shrine Bowl.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reminiscence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reminiscence. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

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