retentive

adjective

Definition of retentivenext
as in careful

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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 retentive Asters thrive in cooler, moisture-retentive soil and can tolerate partial shade, while morning glories prefer full sun and well-draining, poorer soils. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026 Cabbage plants also benefit from moisture-retentive clay as long as gardens don’t stay soggy long enough to lead to rot. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026 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 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 Jane was an anal retentive young mom whose professional dream was to become a bestselling novelist. — Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2021 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retentive
  1. careful
  2. conscientious
  3. cautious
  4. circumspect
  5. wary
  6. thoughtful
  7. heedful
Adjective
  • Full-scale, 10-foot Hulk standins helped actors and camera crews judge his dimensions on set, and even his pants required careful attention.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Turning a field into a recognizable maze requires specialized planning and careful execution.
    — Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • The output of such organizations affects everyone, and a conscientious official may reasonably fear that exiting in a crisis will only accelerate it.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Almost 7% of Tarrant County kindergarteners had a conscientious exemption to at least one vaccine in the 2025-26 school year, up from 3% five years ago, according to state data.
    — Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of conscientious
Adjective
  • For now, a Super El Niño offers a reason for cautious optimism — not a promise of a drought-busting winter.
    — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • People with certain medical conditions should be particularly cautious about intense, high-speed rides.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • In public, top Democrats are accordingly circumspect on targeting Hegseth.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But in a First Opinion, the CEO of Reproductive Futures argues that Overton’s circumspect responses shouldn’t obscure the truth.
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of circumspect
Adjective
  • The third quarter earnings season has only just started, and it's expected to be strong, but investors are growing wary of the market.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Saxberger is wary, but Meyers’s admiration touches something, and soon the older man’s convinced to join a nightly meeting of young aesthetes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of wary
Adjective
  • Combined with plush cushioning, these thoughtful details make Bombas socks stand out from the average pair.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Weiss, now 69, is widely viewed as a smart and thoughtful straight shooter, skilled at solving organizational problems.
    — Hilarie M. Sheets, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of thoughtful
Adjective
  • Her heedful eyes meet those of a young Black girl in overalls and braids on the other side of the room.
    — Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 9 Aug. 2023
  • That’s partly because retailers have grown less heedful about developing the necessary pipelines, a problem that’s worsened in recent years as retailers saw profits crushed by a push into low-margin e-commerce.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2023
Definition of heedful

Browse Nearby Words

retention
retentive
retest
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Cite this Entry

“Retentive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retentive. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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