irretentive
Definition
- Adjective:
- Lacking the ability to retain: "irretentive" describes a person, mind, or memory that is unable to hold or keep information, impressions, or substances. It is the opposite of "retentive."
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- His irretentive memory made it difficult for him to study for exams. (His memory could not retain information.)
- The irretentive soil allowed water to drain away quickly. (The soil could not hold water.)
- She found her irretentive mind frustrating when learning new languages. (Her mind could not retain new vocabulary.)
Advanced Usage
- "irretentive of": followed by a noun to specify what is not retained.
- He was irretentive of names and faces. (He could not remember people's names or appearances.)
- "irretentive memory": a specific phrase used to describe a memory that fails to hold information.
- The patient's irretentive memory was a symptom of his condition. (His memory could not retain new information.)
Variants and Related Words
- Irretention (noun): the quality or state of being irretentive.
- The irretention of the sponge made it useless for cleaning. (The sponge could not hold water.)
- Irretentively (adverb): in a manner that lacks retention.
- He listened irretentively, forgetting everything within minutes. (He listened without retaining the information.)
Synonyms
- Forgetful: tending to forget things easily.
- Nonretentive: not able to retain or hold.
- Leaky: (informal) allowing substances or information to escape.
Antonyms
- Retentive: able to hold or retain.
- Tenacious: holding firmly; persistent in memory.
Related Idioms
- A sieve-like memory: a memory that does not hold information, similar to a sieve that lets water through.
- He has a sieve-like memory; everything goes in one ear and out the other. (He is irretentive.)
Phrasal Verbs
- None directly applicable, as "irretentive" is an adjective and does not form phrasal verbs. However, related verbs include "let slip" or "forget."