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
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Integrating such a messy light source into a silicon photonics chip required careful engineering.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
More than 70 percent of the participants were identified as being open-minded, conscientious, and emotionally stable.—
Alyssa Ages,
Outside,
30 Sep. 2025
-
More than 30 years ago, Greider, a conscientious journalist with a keen eye for detail, exposed how the American political system had been bent toward wealthy interests who could afford to hire lobbyists.—
Zephyr Teachout,
The Atlantic,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Homebuilders are getting more cautious, says economist Wolf.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Markets had expected the more fiscally cautious Shinjiro Koizumi to win.—
Danny Bakst,
Fortune,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
He was gone for two years, returning to the Caribbean in 1509, and in his later writings was circumspect about his own service to the Conquest.—
Greg Grandin
September 23,
Literary Hub,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Although Harris earned a reputation as guarded and circumspect, the book has the tone of someone who is finished biting her tongue.—
Chris Megerian,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The charges were filed despite reports that prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia were wary of the case’s merit.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
8 Oct. 2025
-
But the new prices that hit Wednesday morning — along with some of the best discount offers in years — suggest the media and entertainment giant is being strategic in a year when no brand-new rides are likely to open, and many guests feel wary about the economy overall.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Score our favorite new finds, including a brilliantly fun garlic peeler, a thoughtful batter dispenser for pancakes, baked goods, and more, and a genius two-in-one flipper spatula.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
8 Oct. 2025
-
In the real world, this could look like strengthening a partnership through thoughtful gestures, receiving a windfall of support from family or finding joy in everyday rituals that suddenly feel sacred.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 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 Oct. 2025.
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