1
2
as in retro
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time
the loft's retrograde decor seeks to capture the look and feel of the swinging '60s
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the Dark Ages, the period following the fall of the Roman Empire when Western civilization seriously retrograded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in counterclockwise
Related Words
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 retrograde
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
Partnership thrives when messages stay kind, even as mental Mercury goes retrograde in your 7th House of Partnerships.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026
As Mercury stations retrograde in your sign, confidence wavers and old narratives resurface, tempting you to retreat or overexplain.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrograde
Adjective
Because Mercury is retrograde right now, do not initiate new projects.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
Partnership thrives when messages stay kind, even as mental Mercury goes retrograde in your 7th House of Partnerships.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
Among these were melodic concepts like inversion (flipping a tune), transposition (shifting it up or down scales), retrograding (reversal), and translation (movement over time).
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026
As Mercury stations retrograde in your sign, confidence wavers and old narratives resurface, tempting you to retreat or overexplain.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrograde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrograde
Adjective
-
The order of operations felt as backward as the series of events that preceded it.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
-
That’s one of a number of cases in the paper where the researchers tried to reason backward about what the model was doing based on its output.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Like des Esseintes’s inclination toward the antiquated, Carly’s taste for vintage kitsch runs retro-romantic.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Housed in the sleek, minimalist 40 mm case of its award-winning Streamliner, the piece pairs genuine mechanical ingenuity with a retro refit of one of sneaker culture’s most recognizable innovations.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The debate followed a Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association forum in which Bass and Raman previewed several themes that resurfaced Wednesday, including homelessness policy, LAPD staffing, housing density and frustration over deteriorating city services.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Despite the nonprofit spending $925,000 on ice rental during the 2025-26 season, conditions at the rink deteriorated under Black Bear, said Michalak, who briefly worked at the rink after Black Bear bought it.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Adverb
-
Then, rotate them counterclockwise for six circles.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Because air swirls counterclockwise around low-pressure systems, Cook says, the alignment will sweep frigid air deep into the central U.S. next Sunday and, from there, into the southeastern states next Monday and Tuesday.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Many vintage fashion enthusiasts and Lilly Pulitzer collectors specifically seek out white label pieces for their classic prints, silhouettes, and legacy value.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Maison Bonnet — Need a pair of vintage sunglasses recreated?—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Footage shows a rescue helicopter responding to Moogerah Peaks National Park in southeast Queensland, Australia, where a woman in her 20s injured her ankle in a fall and was unable to descend the mountain.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
-
Only weeks remain before hundreds of thousands of soccer fans are expected to start descending on Kansas City for the first game, on June 16, of the month-long 2026 FIFA World Cup competition.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
In some cases, those were made using antique books and aged paper to better mimic the look of archival documentation before being attached to the works themselves.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Years ago a friend visiting New Mexico went there and bought an antique sterling silver bell to tie around her cat’s neck, which seemed like something either Holly Golightly or Marie Antoinette would have done.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bass defended her administration’s handling of homelessness, pointing to declining homelessness counts and the city’s Inside Safe program, while criticizing Raman’s record on police hiring and past votes against some encampment enforcement measures near schools and other sensitive sites.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
8 May 2026
-
Spatola and his legal team declined to comment immediately after the verdict.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrograde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrograde. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
