as in careful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 retentive
The velocity of decisions and the inverse of that, though, is when these decisions are made, there are incredibly sticky and retentive businesses.
—
Aaron Weitzman, Axios, 9 Sep. 2024
Her ministers fear her ferociously retentive memory for the details of their portfolios—including the particulars of complex technical and scientific issues, such as trade, digital technology, and, lately, the pandemic.
—Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Industrial facilities are designed using environmentally conscientious materials including white roof decks, LED lighting and water-retentive landscaping techniques.
—David Welch, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2022
As well as attracting a significant number of new Discovery+ subscribers, sports broadens its appeal throughout the whole household and provides consumers an even greater, more retentive value proposition.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2022
Energy firms tend to be slow to acquire as customers, but these energy targets are highly retentive once onboarded as customers.
—John Tough, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2021
The cornerstone of a retentive company culture is social agility.
—Mark C. Perna, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2021
They're known for great listening—and they are retentive with a good memory.
—Carrie Goldberg, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 Oct. 2021
Jane was an anal retentive young mom whose professional dream was to become a bestselling novelist.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2021
Aaron Weitzman, Axios, 9 Sep. 2024
Her ministers fear her ferociously retentive memory for the details of their portfolios—including the particulars of complex technical and scientific issues, such as trade, digital technology, and, lately, the pandemic.
—Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Industrial facilities are designed using environmentally conscientious materials including white roof decks, LED lighting and water-retentive landscaping techniques.
—David Welch, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2022
As well as attracting a significant number of new Discovery+ subscribers, sports broadens its appeal throughout the whole household and provides consumers an even greater, more retentive value proposition.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2022
Energy firms tend to be slow to acquire as customers, but these energy targets are highly retentive once onboarded as customers.
—John Tough, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2021
The cornerstone of a retentive company culture is social agility.
—Mark C. Perna, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2021
They're known for great listening—and they are retentive with a good memory.
—Carrie Goldberg, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 Oct. 2021
Jane was an anal retentive young mom whose professional dream was to become a bestselling novelist.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retentive
Adjective
-
To remove the paint from hinge mortises, remove the hinges and scrape away the paint using a 5-in-1 tool or a chisel, being careful not to cut into the wood itself.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 May 2025
-
This thing is razor sharp though, be careful when using it in the backcountry.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
Hybrid tea roses are the classic case as continual new waves of flowers depend on conscientious removal of spent blooms.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
24 May 2025
-
And a committed Marxist's cold-blooded murder of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. Wednesday night was the natural and inevitable consequence of a conscientious, years-long campaign to dehumanize Jews and otherize all supporters of the world's only Jewish state.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
Protect kids, whose skin is especially sensitive to UV damage Be cautious around water and sand, which reflect UV rays and increase exposure Check the UV index in your area for real-time guidance on sun safety To see the entire 2025 Annual Guide to Sunscreens report, click here.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
-
While there's no way to know who will have a reaction to the stings, Suiter says that anyone who carries an Epipen for other stinging insects should be exceptionally cautious.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
The European Union statement was slightly more circumspect.—
Stephen Castle,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
-
Most of the researchers were more circumspect, but Richards—an infectiously cheerful clinical psychologist who is now in his eighties—was happy to entertain the possibility.—
Michael Pollan,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
While some swear by the cleaning product for disinfecting their dishwasher, others may be wary and opt for something different.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
26 May 2025
-
Those in disaster-prone states, such as Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) in Florida, hold a pessimistic view of FEMA and are wary of affording it greater power.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
Project confidence and act with thoughtful reflection.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
-
The clean ingredients and thoughtful composition show that Dossier put real care into creating something special.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
In ancient times a heedful list is a ship of the mind.—
Jay Pilgreen,
Kansas City Star,
12 Feb. 2024
-
Enduring decades of bans for its salacious content, D.H. Lawrence's 1928 avant-garde novel gets a fresh adaptation under the heedful eye of Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, who deftly explores the depths of female desire.—
Lia Beck,
EW.com,
12 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Retentive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retentive. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share