Synonyms of reminiscence

reminiscence

noun

ˌre-mə-ˈni-sᵊn(t)s 

1

as in memory

a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered

his reminiscences about the war were painful to hear

Synonyms & Similar Words

• memory
• recollection
• memorial
• recall
• remembrance
• anamnesis
• reminder
• souvenir
• token
• flashback
• memento
• association

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• recollection
• memory
• mind
• remembrance
• perception
• reflection
• comprehension
• thinking
• understanding
• awareness
• meditation
• consciousness
• retrospection
• contemplation
• musing
• total recall
• cognizance
• hypermnesia
• grasp
• apprehension
• grip

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• repression
• amnesia
• forgetfulness

Synonym Chooser

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

Recent Examples of reminiscence

An excited exchange of reminiscences ensued to catch up on the decades, with gossip about who had married who, who was still living and who had emigrated. —Abby Sewell, Sun Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2025

More than 200 people attended the event, which included an afternoon of reminiscence and music by several Ramona bands. —Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025

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