REGRESS Synonyms: 111 Similar and Opposite Words

regress 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈgres

Definition of regress

as in to revert

to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level in extreme circumstances, people sometimes regress to the behavior they exhibited in childhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deteriorate

to become worse or of less value the annual celebration has regressed to the point where it's nothing more than an excuse to get drunk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

regress

2 of 2

noun

as in regression

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 regress

Verb

But his recovery regressed, and he was shut down from throwing. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026 While hot at the plate over the last few days, Grisham hasn’t been able to replicate his breakout production from a season ago and has continued to regress in center field. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026

Noun

Young children often complain of physical symptoms such as stomachaches, develop separation anxiety, and regress to earlier behaviors like bed-wetting. — Claudia Boyd-Barrett, CBS News, 18 June 2026 The gains came after the latest whipsaw moves for oil prices, which surged toward their highest levels since the war with Iran began only to quickly regress. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for regress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for regress

Verb

The exact process for reverting adult cells back to an early embryonic stage, however, wasn’t clear.

— Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
The lease limits what can be built on the site and once the agreement is complete, ownership reverts back to the Spanglers.

— Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of revert

Verb

An individual company can maintain excellent controls and favorable claims experience while still facing higher pricing because the market has deteriorated around it.

— Randy Sadler, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
And that’s when the Twins began to sink, though the ship deteriorated far more over these past three weeks than at first.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Noun

The Eagles were not as dominant in 2025, partly due to the regression of the depth in their secondary and the injuries sustained at edge rusher.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
But after an apparent regression from his rookie season through his injury-riddled 2025 season, there seems to be a hovering narrative hovering that Xavier Worthy isn’t all that.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of regression

Verb

Attacks by Yemen’s Houthis against Saudi energy infrastructure drove oil prices towards the $100 a barrel mark, as fears grow that the largely dormant Middle East conflict is worsening.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
The worsening economic crisis led to weakness in the labor market, allowing employers to engage in wage repression and leading to further pressure on household incomes.

— Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of worsen

Verb

In recent weeks, new cases and deaths have declined in Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter, but risen sharply in neighboring North Kivu and Haut-Uele, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said at a weekly briefing.

— JEAN-YVES KAMALE, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
Headen declined to claim responsibility for any of the posts.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

The few looks to descend the runway were in a muted neutral color palette featuring dove gray, soft browns and black leather tones.

— Morgan Evans, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
United Airlines Flight 175, another Boeing 767 aircraft, which departed from Boston, was descending and heading for New York City.

— Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of descend

Verb

Transportation officials posted a video showing severe erosion jeopardizing the train tracks used by Metrolink in San Clemente, with strong ocean waves crashing on the tracks and sediment crumbling onto the rocks below.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
The Packers’ identity is that of a team that can’t shut the door, one that crumbles when momentum turns in a hostile away environment.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of crumble

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regress

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Style

“Regress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regress. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of regress

verb

noun

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