as in careful
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Recent Examples of retentive
The velocity of decisions and the inverse of that, though, is when these decisions are made, there are incredibly sticky and retentive businesses.
—
Aaron Weitzman, Axios, 9 Sep. 2024
Industrial facilities are designed using environmentally conscientious materials including white roof decks, LED lighting and water-retentive landscaping techniques.
—David Welch, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2022
As well as attracting a significant number of new Discovery+ subscribers, sports broadens its appeal throughout the whole household and provides consumers an even greater, more retentive value proposition.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2022
They're known for great listening—and they are retentive with a good memory.
—Carrie Goldberg, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 Oct. 2021
Jane was an anal retentive young mom whose professional dream was to become a bestselling novelist.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2021
Her ministers fear her ferociously retentive memory for the details of their portfolios—including the particulars of complex technical and scientific issues, such as trade, digital technology, and, lately, the pandemic.
—Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Aaron Weitzman, Axios, 9 Sep. 2024
Industrial facilities are designed using environmentally conscientious materials including white roof decks, LED lighting and water-retentive landscaping techniques.
—David Welch, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2022
As well as attracting a significant number of new Discovery+ subscribers, sports broadens its appeal throughout the whole household and provides consumers an even greater, more retentive value proposition.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2022
They're known for great listening—and they are retentive with a good memory.
—Carrie Goldberg, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 Oct. 2021
Jane was an anal retentive young mom whose professional dream was to become a bestselling novelist.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2021
Her ministers fear her ferociously retentive memory for the details of their portfolios—including the particulars of complex technical and scientific issues, such as trade, digital technology, and, lately, the pandemic.
—Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retentive
Adjective
-
But Eliasen is careful not to let scope creep derail initial implementations.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Younger adults in particular are less conscientious, agreeable, extroverted and open to new experiences than past generations, while neuroticism — marked by anxiety and emotional instability — is rising.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Most of the traits that are good, like being conscientious and agreeable are also cool, but in different capacities.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The duo have been cautious in their classification, allowing for the possibility that a torus of material could be behind the observations.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
But being cautious doesn’t mean ignoring the risks.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Wicks’ modest-but-devoted flock includes devout church lady Martha Delacroix (Close), circumspect groundskeeper Samson Holt (Church), tightly-wound lawyer Vera Draven, Esq.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The fact that McCrory and Cicero-Hamlin were close was apparent to acquaintances, although some said the two were circumspect about a relationship.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Other than in the Second Circuit, the federal courts of appeals generally have interpreted the Confrontation Clause to require face-to-face cross examination, and counsel should be wary of giving up that important right.—
Robert Anello,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
For decades, educators have been wary of the decline in critical thinking and its impact on undermining the very purpose of education.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
An amicable run-in with his ex-wife in this episode has the same thoughtful feeling.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Her solution is to be thoughtful and focused on the right risks and opportunities.—
Jack McCullough,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In ancient times a heedful list is a ship of the mind.—
Jay Pilgreen,
Kansas City Star,
12 Feb. 2024
-
Enduring decades of bans for its salacious content, D.H. Lawrence's 1928 avant-garde novel gets a fresh adaptation under the heedful eye of Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, who deftly explores the depths of female desire.—
Lia Beck,
EW.com,
12 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Retentive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retentive. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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