RETROACTIVE Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

retroactive

adjective

Definition of retroactive

as in retrospective

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 retroactive Drone pros and content creators still aren't feeling the full impact, but that will change quickly if retroactive bans broaden. — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026 If confirmed by the Senate, Severs would serve a term of five years, retroactive to the time of the vacancy, July 1, 2024. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026 Now, the Missouri Tigers’ gridiron team of 1960 can join the list of retroactive national champions. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026 But as Biden’s pardon was retroactive, Republicans had said that any false statements Fauci made under oath during the hearing could still expose him to perjury charges. — Connor Greene, Time, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for retroactive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retroactive

Adjective

Join Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-creator Dan Goor and cast members for an exclusive retrospective celebrating the beloved NBC comedy.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026
Wolff believes this gives the agency more immediate visibility into client performance, rather than relying solely on retrospective reporting.

— Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of retrospective

Adjective

Summary Top companies are revolutionizing decision-making by leveraging location as a critical analytical lens, moving beyond mere data points.

— Brian Cross, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
An analytical number theorist and an expert in partial differential equations often don’t speak the same language.

— Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of analytic

Adjective

More than 500 workers oversee current projects and an archive, a meditative space for its tomes of silk samples that houses a collection of 75,000 fabric prints, 80,000 silk scarves, and more.

— Ondine Cohane, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2026
Six illuminated lotus flowers will grace the water of the Paddleboat Quarry, inviting Naperville Riverwalk visitors to have a meditative experience, according to ArtForum Treasurer Erin Franczyk.

— Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of meditative

Adjective

The collector uses reflective elements to direct sunlight toward an absorber panel, where the energy is trapped and transferred to a medium such as air or water.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
The first feels rooted in youth, summer, romance and memory; after the switch, the music becomes more reflective, solitary and unsettled.

— Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of reflective

Adjective

Pilgrims walk between temples, rest in historic ryokan and keep to contemplative daily rituals that discourage mass, high-speed tourism.

— Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
The pacing feels off throughout much of the film, with comic and contemplative asides gumming up the central caper.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of contemplative

Adjective

When there are multiple logical possibilities for what the next word should be, the model typically selects one of those words by chance, based on their relative frequencies in the data.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
For five of the Buss siblings, selling the remaining stake can be viewed as the logical conclusion of a process that began when the family surrendered control of the Lakers last year.

— Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of logical

Adjective

But the book’s ruminative watchfulness is unsuccessfully conjugated in this overly sedate play with music, which has the feel of a song cycle, though sung by the fine cast with gorgeous, lonely sorrow.

— Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
Their ruminative hush sets them apart in an era of instant-gratification drops.

— Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026

Definition of ruminative

Browse Nearby Words

retro

retroactive

retrofit

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Retroactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retroactive. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of retroactive

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on retroactive

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tilde

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes