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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
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Recent Examples of retrograde
Rich Juzwiak, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
In addition to an hour-and-minute display and a subsidiary seconds indicator, the face is equipped with an oversized date window and a retrograde day-of-the-week indicator.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Dec. 2025
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
This is especially true as Mercury—your ruling planet—stations retrograde mid-month on the 15th.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retrograde
Adjective
If the original Queer Eye seemed retrograde in 2003, doing it all over again in 2018 was like warming over dust.
—Rich Juzwiak, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
In addition to an hour-and-minute display and a subsidiary seconds indicator, the face is equipped with an oversized date window and a retrograde day-of-the-week indicator.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Dec. 2025
Verb
Mercury retrograde late in the month encourages you to slow down, revisit old beliefs, and give yourself grace.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
This is especially true as Mercury—your ruling planet—stations retrograde mid-month on the 15th.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retrograde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrograde
Adjective
-
There were backward passes, deep bombs and spin moves aplenty to evade potential tag-pullers.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Ash Wednesday is designated by counting backward 40 days from Easter, minus the Sundays.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This time, however, the retro silhouettes are being taken over by whimsical, maximalist details.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
15 Feb. 2026
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The resulting costume design and look of the country club feel simultaneously retro and timeless.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As her vision deteriorates, Penny turns to psychoanalysis not in hopes of reversing her condition, but to confront years of denial and silence.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
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Common findings from sewer scopes include root intrusion at joints (especially common in clay pipes), belly or sag in the line where water pools, cracked or offset joints, and deteriorated Orangeburg sections.—
Allison Palmer
Updated February 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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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
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The steel case is topped with a 12-sided ceramic unidirectional bezel that provides a firm grip and a solid, quiet motion when rotating it counterclockwise.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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His Chevy was one of three vintage American automobiles that US diplomats selected to be in the background for the flag raising ceremony at the US Embassy in Havana that marked the official restoration of ties between the two countries following decades of bitter animosity.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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And through the dark, winding path of grief came a quaint, bright pink house nestled between a local home goods store and a vintage clothing shop on Parkville’s historic Main Street — creating a stark contrast from the deep sorrow Kincaid and her husband, Michael, felt inside.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That unfurled into the most fundamental reason the wide world of sports will be descending on Kansas City this June and July, with 650,000-plus visitors anticipated even before the base camp announcements.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Feb. 2026
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Local forecasts show that heavy thunderstorms could descend on Daytona International Speedway on Sunday evening — which would punctuate a week of exclusively sunny weather.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Or would there be a brass scale marking the 1849 beginning of the Gold Rush, or an antique gas pump signifying the 1956 development of interstate highways?—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2026
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Search for treasures at Chesterdales Antiques, a must-stop for antique and vintage hunters, or browse boutiques on the walkable shopping streets—Fifth Avenue or Third Avenue.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cassia County Sheriff Jarrod Thompson’s office declined to comment Thursday and directed the Statesman back to Larsen.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Feb. 2026
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Durant declined to address the allegation directly on Wednesday.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrograde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrograde. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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