as in philosophical
given to or marked by reflection of the past
Her book takes a retrospective look at the actor's long and distinguished career.
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Recent Examples of retrospective
Reichardt, whose contemplative fiction films often blur the boundary between narrative and observation, will receive a retrospective and present a personal selection of documentaries, while Loznitsa will present an extensive retrospective including early short works.
—
Lise Pedersen, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
The novel conspiracy theory rests on events and perceptions from years ago, and its reliance on retrospective interpretations of consent should give pause.
—Chloe Melas, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
Performance was managed as an operational metric, not a retrospective surprise.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
That suggests that person-to-person variability may be important, but the effect is still large enough to overcome person-to-person differences, at least in the earlier retrospective analysis.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrospective
Lise Pedersen, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
The novel conspiracy theory rests on events and perceptions from years ago, and its reliance on retrospective interpretations of consent should give pause.
—Chloe Melas, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
Performance was managed as an operational metric, not a retrospective surprise.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
That suggests that person-to-person variability may be important, but the effect is still large enough to overcome person-to-person differences, at least in the earlier retrospective analysis.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrospective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrospective
Adjective
-
That is a reasonable philosophical position in the abstract.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
-
That was sort of my philosophical or literary grounding.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Taking place Friday nights from June through late August, the series invites families, friends and film lovers to gather under the stars for a mix of recent releases and nostalgic favorites, all set against the backdrop of Orange County’s regional parks.—
Holly Alvarado,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
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Like the public spaces, the rooms and suites embody a nostalgic Italian coastal style with a predominantly white color scheme accented by varying shades of greens and blues.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Accompanied by organ and drums, the Norwegian guitarist finds introspective new shades of her virtuosic approach.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
-
He’s measured, introspective and — most of all — calm.—
Blair R. Fischer,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Monetary policymakers must act in the nation’s interest…their decisions the product of analytic rigor, meaningful deliberation, and unclouded decision-making.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
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However, Neptune idealizes, which can ultimately blur boundaries, while Mercury prefers to be analytical, seeking out the facts and hard data.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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To be reasonable, in Rawls’s sense, is to accept that one’s deepest convictions may fail to command assent from others who are no less sincere or thoughtful, and then to propose terms of political coöperation that others can appreciate.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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This transit favors awareness and thoughtful pacing.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Wabi-sabi design helps create a home that feels authentic, relaxed, and reflective of your real life.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
23 Apr. 2026
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Yet where its predecessor often had a reflective tone, their latest is about high-energy garage-rock catharsis, getting in a room and blasting away and letting the noise be your guide.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrospective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrospective. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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