regressive

adjective

re·gres·sive | \ ri-ˈgre-siv

Definition of regressive

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

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Opponents have labeled the carbon fee a regressive tax that would hit hard at low-wage workers who have to drive long distances to work. — Agueda Pacheco-flores, The Seattle Times, "Flyers citing Latino businesses’ opposition to carbon fee ignites campaign controversy," 31 Oct. 2018 Our regressive tax system … has the middle class paying more than double the rate the wealthy pay. — John O'connor, The Seattle Times, "Gov. Pritzker gives Democrats near-record power in Illinois," 14 Jan. 2019 Count me among those who understand cutting the dividend, or capping it, is a vicious form of regressive taxation on Alaska's less fortunate — and an economy deflator. — Paul Jenkins, Anchorage Daily News, "Don’t enshrine Alaska’s PFD in the constitution," 13 Jan. 2018 Last year the president and congressional Republicans pushed through what was probably the most regressive tax cut in U.S. history. — Alan S. Blinder, WSJ, "What if Trump Really Wanted to Make America Great Again?," 3 Dec. 2018 Yet, the Trump administration has finalized a regressive set of health insurance policy changes that could roll back access to the very thing that has helped us get here: birth control. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Birth Control Helped Us Reach Historically Low Abortion Rates, But the Trump Administration Could Change That," 30 Nov. 2018 Ollivier demonstrates strength and resilience, though ultimately, her character is more of a prop to create tension for others in some extraordinarily tired and regressive ways, rather than someone with her own agency and destiny. — Bryan Bishop, The Verge, "Overlord is a gloriously entertaining piece of B-movie schlock," 9 Nov. 2018 Last night at the 2018 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Awards, the 22-year-old stoked the flames of regressive beauty stereotypes on the red carpet in more ways than one. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "Lourdes Leon Is Shattering Beauty Stereotypes With Body Hair—Just Like Her Famous Mother," 6 Nov. 2018 The California Public Utilities Commission is set to revisit this regressive policy in 2019—before the solar mandate takes effect. — Steven Sexton, WSJ, "The Phony Numbers Behind California’s Solar Mandate," 12 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'regressive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.