regressive
adjective
re·gres·sive
ri-ˈgre-siv 
1
: tending to regress or produce regression
2
: being, characterized by, or developing in the course of an evolutionary process involving increasing simplification of bodily structure
3
: decreasing in rate as the base increases
a regressive tax
Examples of regressive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Whenever a regressive tax is imposed, those with the lowest incomes pay the most and face the most significant negative economic consequences.
—
Noreen Sugrue, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Perez’s proposal to cut the statewide sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, leaving nearly $5 billion in people’s pockets, would make the nation’s most regressive revenue base somewhat less unfair to everyone who isn’t wealthy.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
The big picture: Taxes in the Sunshine State are some of the most regressive in the country, where the lowest-income households spend the greatest proportion of their income on state and local taxes.
—Yacob Reyes, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025
Florida’s taxes are considered the most regressive in the nation, meaning the lowest-income households pay the greatest proportion of their income in state and local taxes, according to the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regressive
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Noreen Sugrue, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Perez’s proposal to cut the statewide sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, leaving nearly $5 billion in people’s pockets, would make the nation’s most regressive revenue base somewhat less unfair to everyone who isn’t wealthy.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
The big picture: Taxes in the Sunshine State are some of the most regressive in the country, where the lowest-income households spend the greatest proportion of their income on state and local taxes.
—Yacob Reyes, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025
Florida’s taxes are considered the most regressive in the nation, meaning the lowest-income households pay the greatest proportion of their income in state and local taxes, according to the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regressive
Cite this Entry
“Regressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regressive. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
regressive
adjective
re·gres·sive
ri-ˈgres-iv
1
: of, relating to, or tending toward regression
2
: gradually decreasing
a regressive tax
Medical Definition
regressive
adjective
re·gres·sive
ri-ˈgres-iv
: relating to, resulting from, producing, or characterized by regression
regressive behavior
regressive tissue changes
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