retrospective

adjective

Definition of retrospectivenext
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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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 retrospective 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 The whole point of the event is not the event itself but the retrospective broadcasting of its participants’ staggering wealth and power. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026 Heritage Monday has become a popular fixture at the industry section of the Locarno Film Festival, reflecting the growing interest in film restoration and retrospective programming. — John Bleasdale, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for retrospective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrospective
  1. philosophical
  2. nostalgic
  3. introspective
  4. analytic
  5. thoughtful
  6. reflective
Adjective
  • But that fear is also producing an increasingly dangerous critical climate in which audiences are being subtly encouraged to inspect every project for a philosophical smoking gun.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Voters, whether explicitly or not, wrestle with this philosophical fight.
    — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of philosophical
Adjective
  • Colored Light Bulbs and Lava Lamps Colored bulbs and lava lamps may conjure images of ’90s bedrooms, but nostalgic lighting is returning in a more intentional way.
    — Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Mismatched geometric shapes and plaid add to the nostalgic feel.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of nostalgic
Adjective
  • The music was imbued with grace and dignity in both its most introspective and uplifting moments.
    — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • One is fluorescent, maximalist, and celebratory; the other is somber, introspective, and stripped back.
    — Thalía Henao, Allure, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of introspective
Adjective
  • The momentum in many criminal legal enterprises began hurtling toward digitally automating this analytic regime of knowledge.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Just as people lost navigation and memorization skills with modern inventions, bankers risk losing analytical abilities if algorithms handle all the heavy lifting, Churchman said.
    — Hugh Son, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of analytic
Adjective
  • The angular build brings in thoughtful symmetry and lots of tabletop space to curate a varied display of coffee table books and knickknacks.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Ranjit Bawa, chief technology and ventures officer at Deloitte, also recommends giving employees autonomy to make thoughtful decisions around when to use AI.
    — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of thoughtful
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

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retrospections
retrospective
retrospects
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Cite this Entry

“Retrospective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrospective. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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