retentive

adjective

Definition of retentivenext
as in careful

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 retentive Asters thrive in cooler, moisture-retentive soil and can tolerate partial shade, while morning glories prefer full sun and well-draining, poorer soils. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026 Cabbage plants also benefit from moisture-retentive clay as long as gardens don’t stay soggy long enough to lead to rot. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026 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 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 Energy firms tend to be slow to acquire as customers, but these energy targets are highly retentive once onboarded as customers. — John Tough, Forbes, 21 Dec. 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
  1. careful
  2. conscientious
  3. cautious
  4. circumspect
  5. wary
  6. thoughtful
  7. heedful
Adjective
  • After careful physical analysis of six ancient princesses buried beneath the pyramids at Dahshur, researchers now have an answer.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 July 2026
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Perhaps in a conscientious effort to make sure guests don’t feel trapped, the tiny suite doors—just about five-foot-two high—do not automatically lock.
    — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
  • Gluten-free cones are available, and conscientious staff always wash their hands and change gloves for celiacs.
    — Luke Pyenson, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Definition of conscientious
Adjective
  • At a time when global fashion is navigating economic uncertainty, shifting supply chains and cautious consumer spending, one country is making an unmistakably confident statement.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Those with underlying health conditions like asthma, COPD, heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease or who are pregnant need to be extra cautious about breathing in wildfire smoke.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • The speech that followed created the perception of her as a firebrand, but those who have followed her career closely have found a more circumspect figure.
    — Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026
  • The Argentinean star, for his part, is apolitical and circumspect—a significant departure from Maradona, who had a famous friendship with Fidel Castro.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 16 July 2026
Definition of circumspect
Adjective
  • Others like Cotton were reminded of past natural disasters, leaving them wary of stepping outside.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Such outlets may become wary of pursuing stories that could put them in the Administration’s crosshairs.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 July 2026
Definition of wary
Adjective
  • The service The staff are polite and attentive, and will provide thoughtful touches, such as leaving birthday cakes for guests.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 July 2026
  • Other smart, thoughtful features are scattered throughout the Columbus Liner interior.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 July 2026
Definition of thoughtful
Adjective
  • Her heedful eyes meet those of a young Black girl in overalls and braids on the other side of the room.
    — Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 9 Aug. 2023
  • That’s partly because retailers have grown less heedful about developing the necessary pipelines, a problem that’s worsened in recent years as retailers saw profits crushed by a push into low-margin e-commerce.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2023
Definition of heedful

Browse Nearby Words

retention
retentive
retest
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Retentive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retentive. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on retentive

Nglish: Translation of retentive for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All