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
Usa Today, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Many of Barbara’s dreams are superficial and retrograde.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
Annabel Gat, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2026
The signs that will feel this Mercury retrograde the most are the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces).
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrograde
Adjective
Pluto goes retrograde today, forcing a deep dive into ancestry, heritage, and family secrets.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Many of Barbara’s dreams are superficial and retrograde.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
What does Mercury retrograde in Pisces mean for our love lives?
—Annabel Gat, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2026
The signs that will feel this Mercury retrograde the most are the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces).
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retrograde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrograde
Adjective
-
But even without Trump ordering up porticoes and colonnades, the architects would likely have looked backward to look forward.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
8 June 2026
-
These ideas are not only backward but also reflect weakness.—
Abigail R. Hall,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Tasting History with Max Miller, a popular YouTube channel with over four million subscribers, has garnered almost 425,000 views (and counting) on his video making the retro recipe.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
-
Much to the delight of comfort-minded dressers everywhere, loose, retro activewear has gone supernova this year.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Glamour,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Her mother, however, had been deteriorating from Parkinson’s and dementia for four years.—
Wes Kilgore,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Cutting prices now could make the situation even more dire, deteriorating already disastrous profit margins.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
11 June 2026
Adverb
-
Pressing down on the wrench, move it counterclockwise then clockwise.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
21 May 2026
-
First of all, one now programs the countdown function via the lower pusher on the side of the case, and the countdown minute- and seconds-hands now turn counterclockwise, which is a more intuitive configuration for tracking receding time.—
Allen Farmelo,
Robb Report,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Gone is the vintage Magic Flyer, once Magic Mountain’s oldest coaster (the park’s eldest thrill seeker is now Gold Rusher).—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
The pair packed on the PDA, with Perry in a vintage white halter-neck Lanvin gown with rose embellishments and her brunette hair styled into an updo.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Each spring the skies over central Nebraska fill with a special sound—a rolling, trumpeting, almost prehistoric chorus—as a slew of sandhill cranes descend on the wide and shallow reaches of the Platte River.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
The Bay Area missed out on hosting powerhouse nations such as Germany, Spain, Brazil or France, but the eight countries set to descend on the region still have a healthy amount of star power on their rosters, even if there is no Lionel Messi or Lamine Yamal to be seen.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
It’s made from iron, has an antique-looking bronze finish, and is designed with a cut-out floral pattern for a touch of flair.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
9 June 2026
-
In Turpentine, after her son hires friends to steal the family’s antique gun collection to pay off a debt, a mother steps in to clean up the mess, triggering a chain of events that stretch the family bond to its limit.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Ohtani declined a post-game interview request Thursday.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
-
The number of stray dog reports has declined in recent years.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrograde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrograde. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
