RETENTIVE Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

retentive

adjective

Definition of retentive

as in careful

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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

Getting to that point required careful control of stress during fabrication.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Huntsinger, playing along with Variety’s should-win/will-win Emmy prediction game, drew a careful line.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of careful

Adjective

As for how her position on Disney and the FCC goes over with her colleagues, Gomez is more circumspect.

— Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
However, when asked about any shenanigans Yungblud and Hill might have gotten into on the road, the singer remains circumspect.

— Katherine Turman, SPIN, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of circumspect

Adjective

His father, Francisco, was also wary, afraid that the town’s militarization would somehow provoke further conflict.

— Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
South Africa has seemingly overcome its electricity crisis, with the country’s power utility, Eskom, reporting a power surplus during the winter peak-demand season, but civil society groups are wary of the surplus power being sold to data centers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of wary

Adjective

The fall 2026 collections leaned into this expression of individuality, showcasing an array of accents that encourage thoughtful experimentation.

— Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Every element is artful, thoughtful—a genuine expression of the Sersales’ enduring love affair with contemporary art and cultural storytelling.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 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 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of retentive

adjective

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