Retentive: meaning, definitions and examples

Best used when referring to the ability to remember information and keep it in the memory for a long time. Particularly used to describe someone's memory or a system designed to retain information.

• She has a retentive memory and rarely forgets a detail.
• This Database Management System is very retentive and stores all records efficiently.

Suitable when talking about something that is worth remembering because it is special or remarkable. Often used to describe experiences, events, or moments.

• Our trip to Paris was a truly memorable experience.
• His speech was memorable, and everyone talked about it for days.

Used when referring to the act of bringing a memory back to one's mind. Often used in contexts where someone is actively trying to remember something specific.

• She kept recalling the events of that tragic day.
• Recalling names can sometimes be challenging for me.

Appropriate when referring to the power of recollecting or calling back past experiences to mind. It is often used in literary contexts or intellectual discussions about memory.

• The letter was recollective of their childhood together.
• He entered a recollective state, reminiscing about his youth.

Used primarily in academic or scientific contexts, often to describe someone's capability to retain information or details.

• The student has a highly retentive mind, excelling in subjects that require memorization
• They chose retentive soil for the garden to ensure it held water longer

Generally used in emotional contexts to describe someone who is excessively attached to or controlling over others, usually in relationships. This word often has a negative connotation.

• He's very possessive of his friends, not liking when they spend time with others
• Her possessive nature has caused problems in her marriage

This term is commonly used in informal contexts to describe someone who is overly dependent on others, often needing constant attention or affection. It usually has a negative connotation.

• Her boyfriend is so clingy, he calls her every hour
• The child became clingy after starting school, not wanting to leave his parents

Used to describe someone who accumulates a large number of items and finds it difficult to discard them. Often associated with a mental health condition and has a negative connotation.

• She's been hoarding old newspapers for years, filling up her entire attic
• The show about hoarding highlights the struggles people face in letting go of their belongings