RETENTIVE Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

retentive

adjective

Definition of retentive

as in careful

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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 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

Adjective

Full-scale, 10-foot Hulk standins helped actors and camera crews judge his dimensions on set, and even his pants required careful attention.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Turning a field into a recognizable maze requires specialized planning and careful execution.

— Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of careful

Adjective

Even if every senator were ethical, conscientious and committed to the public good, the incentives would remain the same.

— Nicholas Jacobs, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026
And there is a bonus benefit — people who are concerned about the future tend to make more conscientious decisions about the present.

— John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of conscientious

Adjective

The third quarter earnings season has only just started, and it's expected to be strong, but investors are growing wary of the market.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Saxberger is wary, but Meyers’s admiration touches something, and soon the older man’s convinced to join a nightly meeting of young aesthetes.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of wary

Adjective

And Winnie-the-Pooh continues to sit, in a thoughtful sort of way, which is what very old bears in very nice glass cases mostly do.

— STEVE HENDRIX THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
While the palette is narrow, thoughtful color moments are strategically placed through accents like carpets and textiles.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 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

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“Retentive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retentive. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of retentive

adjective

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