What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
retrograde
Example
The company's retrograde policies led to a decrease in employee morale. [retrograde: adjective]
Example
The project's progress was retrograde due to unforeseen setbacks. [retrograde: noun]
Example
Mercury appears to move in retrograde during certain times of the year. [retrograde: adverb]
reversed
Example
The court reversed its previous ruling and declared the defendant innocent. [reversed: verb]
Example
The teacher asked the students to write their names in reversed order. [reversed: adjective]
Example
The car went in reverse down the steep hill. [reverse: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Reversed is more commonly used than retrograde in everyday language. Reversed is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while retrograde is less common and often used in specific fields such as science or astrology.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between retrograde and reversed?
Both retrograde and reversed can be used in formal and informal contexts, but retrograde may be more formal due to its association with scientific or technical language.
