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
-
But the consequences of a destabilized Mali, compounded by the wider fallout from the Iran war, are unlikely to stop at its borders and threatens to deepen a deteriorating security crisis across one of the world’s most volatile regions.—
Ulf Laessing,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The mammal’s health deteriorated as it became repeatedly stranded in shallow waters, and unsuccessful efforts to coax it toward deeper seas were livestreamed across the globe.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 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
-
Bovino, who led much of the immigration enforcement operation in Chicago and the suburbs, as well as in Minnesota before retiring this year amid criticism, declined to appear before the commission.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
The Salt Lake County district attorney’s office and the Draper City prosecutor both declined to file charges against Paul in April, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrograde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrograde. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
