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 Many are free to the public, and the celebration will continue after the festival with a five-week retrospective screening series. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026 Honoring the way Schultz’s weaving developed through intergenerational mentorship and knowledge transfer, the retrospective contains works by four generations of weavers in her family, including her mother, Martha Gorman Schultz, who passed away last year at the age of 93. — Lua Vollaard, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026 Those systems are also retrospective; duplicate-content detection is designed to identify existing copies across the platform, not only catch new uploads in real time. — Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 23 June 2026 Well, one other retrospective question. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 June 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
  • Her research explores questions about the nature of the self, decision-making, temporal experience, philosophical methodology, causation, causal experience, time and time’s arrow, perception, mereology, constitution, and essence.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But Cheogyal and his classmates studied the history of Tibetan dynasties, logic, philosophical systems, poetry, linguistics, and astrology – core subjects in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of philosophical
Adjective
  • And while further details are yet to be revealed — save for the glimpses featured in the trailer that dropped in June — fans can expect to get that nostalgic feeling that captured their hearts the first time around.
    — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The nostalgic crunchy-yet-pillowy texture, mixed with the tangy snap of the dill pickle flavor, made this my new go-to snack.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of nostalgic
Adjective
  • The red planet doesn’t care to journey through this Water sign — given its introspective and emotional nature — but that doesn’t mean it can’t be harnessed correctly.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
  • This free and fiery take on folk and indie pop could have benefitted from an edit that allowed its highlights to shine, but its deceptively soft, introspective parts are potent nonetheless.
    — Lina Lecaro, SPIN, 20 July 2026
Definition of introspective
Adjective
  • Whether the issue was rare earths, electric vehicles, robotics, semiconductors, or artificial intelligence, the analytical mistake has remained remarkably consistent.
    — Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Putnam was an exception to this rule as an analytic philosopher who ventured into continental territory.
    — Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of analytic
Adjective
  • The shoulder pads are removable, a thoughtful detail that allows the top to be worn as a statement or in a more relaxed fashion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The pair tapped Van Eyssen, an alum of famed Asian hospitality brand Aman, to curate the spa’s program, which reflected her thoughtful and holistic approach to wellness.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of thoughtful
Adjective
  • According to the announcement, the semi-acoustic record draws inspiration from reflective touchstones in Young’s catalog such as Comes a Time and Prairie Wind, with lyrics that grapple with memory, mortality and renewal.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Caltrans has been slowly removing those 1960s-era signs with the letter studded with reflective dots and replacing them with newer ones.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of reflective

Browse Nearby Words

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 8 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of retrospective for Spanish Speakers

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