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
Rich Juzwiak, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
In addition to an hour-and-minute display and a subsidiary seconds indicator, the face is equipped with an oversized date window and a retrograde day-of-the-week indicator.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Dec. 2025
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
This is especially true as Mercury—your ruling planet—stations retrograde mid-month on the 15th.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retrograde
Adjective
If the original Queer Eye seemed retrograde in 2003, doing it all over again in 2018 was like warming over dust.
—Rich Juzwiak, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
In addition to an hour-and-minute display and a subsidiary seconds indicator, the face is equipped with an oversized date window and a retrograde day-of-the-week indicator.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Dec. 2025
Verb
Mercury retrograde late in the month encourages you to slow down, revisit old beliefs, and give yourself grace.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
This is especially true as Mercury—your ruling planet—stations retrograde mid-month on the 15th.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retrograde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrograde
Adjective
-
And the Patriots would have lost that AFC Championship Game if Nix’s backup, Jarrett Stidham, had taken a sack rather than trying some weird, backward shot-put throw.—
Vic Tafur,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
As Malinin comes out of his spin, his backward boot strikes the ice with a landing force between five and eight times his body weight, or upwards of 700 pounds.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Inspired by retro styles, these watches offer more than traditional options, with features such as alarms and stopwatch functions.—
John Monaco,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
-
But her glam team went in an entirely different retro direction, evoking the murder-mystery vibes behind the series and throwing it back to the 1960s with a Hitchcockian beauty moment.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Because of deteriorating conditions, operations were transitioned to a defensive strategy, Marceau said.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Working conditions, meanwhile, have continued to deteriorate as the demands on workers increase.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Because air swirls counterclockwise around low-pressure systems, Cook says, the alignment will sweep frigid air deep into the central U.S. next Sunday and, from there, into the southeastern states next Monday and Tuesday.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The steel case is topped with a 12-sided ceramic unidirectional bezel that provides a firm grip and a solid, quiet motion when rotating it counterclockwise.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The image that usually beckons of a vintage store is one that is fusty, cramped and dimly lit, filled with garments organized without design or backstory.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
On one side, classic straight-leg fits emerged as the default, refreshed in pale blue, mid-blue, and softly worn vintage washes.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This time last year, the Davis Cup descended into farce and acrimony when Zizou Bergs of Belgium collided with Chile’s Cristian Garín at a changeover and set off a chain of events that led to Garín losing the match after being timed out.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
This weekend, Super Bowl crowds are descending on San Francisco for the first time in ten years—and the timing couldn’t be more apt.—
Julia Black,
Vanity Fair,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The designer brings out her clients’ personalities with new and antique elements sourced around the world while drawing inspiration from fashion, art, architecture, and design history to create spaces that are rich in detail.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Morgan and Glazer spent months traveling together through the United States, France, England, Scotland and Ireland, scouting antique fairs and dealers, flea markets, junk shops and old manor houses selling their patrimony.—
Mark Lamster
Architecture Critic,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The driver and bicyclist declined to be transported to the hospital, according to officials.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The sheriff declined to answer several questions, including one from a reporter who asked if there was a ransom demanded.—
Adam Sabes , Michael Ruiz , Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrograde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrograde. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
