retrogressive
adjective
ret·ro·gres·sive
ˌre-trə-ˈgre-siv 
: characterized by retrogression: such as
a
: going or directed backward
b
: declining from a better to a worse state
c
: passing from a higher to a lower level of organization
retrogressive evolution
retrogressively
adverb
Examples of retrogressive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This marks it as similarly out-of-time — albeit in a perhaps retrogressive way.
—
Brett Berk, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Oct. 2024
The commenters had an absolute field day with what many view as a tone-deaf and retrogressive fashion shoot.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 28 Nov. 2023
Fox Odoi-Oywelowo, one of the few lawmakers who opposed the bill, called it repugnant and retrogressive.
—Rael Ombuor, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2023
They are committed to a retrogressive public policy.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 25 Aug. 2021
Representation can help change this retrogressive thinking.
—Elissa Strauss, CNN, 3 Dec. 2020
Those against Brexit portrayed it as historically retrogressive, taking the country out of the collective European project while imperiling access to the European marketplace — the destination for nearly half of the nation’s exports.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2019
But Tan appears to be responding to the retrogressive entrenchment of hard-line conservative values and intolerance in pockets of American life today.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2018
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Brett Berk, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Oct. 2024
The commenters had an absolute field day with what many view as a tone-deaf and retrogressive fashion shoot.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 28 Nov. 2023
Fox Odoi-Oywelowo, one of the few lawmakers who opposed the bill, called it repugnant and retrogressive.
—Rael Ombuor, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2023
They are committed to a retrogressive public policy.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 25 Aug. 2021
Representation can help change this retrogressive thinking.
—Elissa Strauss, CNN, 3 Dec. 2020
Those against Brexit portrayed it as historically retrogressive, taking the country out of the collective European project while imperiling access to the European marketplace — the destination for nearly half of the nation’s exports.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2019
But Tan appears to be responding to the retrogressive entrenchment of hard-line conservative values and intolerance in pockets of American life today.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Retrogressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retrogressive. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
retrogressive
adjective
ret·ro·gres·sive
-ˈgres-iv
: characterized by retrogression: as
a
: declining from a better to a worse state
a retrogressive disease
b
: passing from a higher to a lower level of organization
retrogressive evolution
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