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.
Related Words
Relevance
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 retrospective
That Smith’s work remains little-known is all the more baffling considering the strength and depth of a retrospective now up at Keith de Lellis.
—
Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Major industry figures from the era included in the retrospective include John Garfield, Joseph Losey, Dalton Trumbo, Dorothy Parker, Richard Wright, and Charles Chaplin.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
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
Performance was managed as an operational metric, not a retrospective surprise.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrospective
Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Major industry figures from the era included in the retrospective include John Garfield, Joseph Losey, Dalton Trumbo, Dorothy Parker, Richard Wright, and Charles Chaplin.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
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
Performance was managed as an operational metric, not a retrospective surprise.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrospective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrospective
Adjective
-
Perhaps Cora was resistant to certain moves or philosophical changes that Breslow wanted to see implemented.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Over the last year, however, much of that feedback has been met by philosophical soliloquies and redirection.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
What’s left is less of a roaring action flick and more of a recurring nostalgic flicker.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
-
However, not every nostalgic throwback deserves a second chance.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
30 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
-
Oritain’s proprietary forensic origin verification methodology uses multiple analytical techniques, including isotopes, trace elements and non-traditional isotopes, along with statistical modeling through a global reference database to ensure supply chain transparency.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Maybe Cora wasn’t fully bought in to Breslow’s analytical ways or simply had his own ideas about how to best move forward.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Most importantly, playing prominent roles alongside a respected veteran and thoughtful mentor in Zibanejad really seemed to propel the young wingers, who finished the season by combining for 43 points (24 for Lafrenière and 19 for Perreault) in the final 23 games.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
August 23 – September 22 One thoughtful move today creates real momentum.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Wabi-sabi design helps create a home that feels authentic, relaxed, and reflective of your real life.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
23 Apr. 2026
-
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 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
