1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
as in regression
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of regress
Kevin Sack, Time, 3 June 2025
When a crisis draws him back home to Baltimore, Elisha’s world begins to collapse, expand, regress and explode all around him.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 12 May 2025
Kc Joyner, New York Times, 23 July 2025
Third baseman Connor Norby, who began his Marlins career by showing considerable promise but regressed somewhat this season, will miss six to eight weeks after underdoing wrist surgery this week, the team said.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for regress
Verb
Advertisement Advertisement As a journalist who had chronicled progress and regress in my native South across four decades, I was deeply affected by the murders on June 17, 2015, at Emanuel African Methodist Church in Charleston, S.C.—Mother Emanuel, as it is known.
—Kevin Sack, Time, 3 June 2025
When a crisis draws him back home to Baltimore, Elisha’s world begins to collapse, expand, regress and explode all around him.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 12 May 2025
Noun
Those aerial numbers could regress with defenses having a full offseason to adjust.
—Kc Joyner, New York Times, 23 July 2025
Third baseman Connor Norby, who began his Marlins career by showing considerable promise but regressed somewhat this season, will miss six to eight weeks after underdoing wrist surgery this week, the team said.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for regress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regress
Verb
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He’s also underscored that the plan would be temporary, reverting back to the independent commission’s regular post-census redistricting schedule after the 2030 cycle.—
Julia Mueller,
The Hill,
21 Aug. 2025
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Most of the state’s 52 districts would see minimal changes and eight districts would be unchanged. Remain in effect until 2030, when control would revert back to the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But this week, the situation in Donetsk has rapidly deteriorated, with Russian forces making important advances to the north east of Dobropilia, altering control of the area Witkoff has been discussing with the Kremlin.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
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But after the Sriracha-maker callously withheld payments from Underwood, the relationship deteriorated and litigation followed.—
Kate Vitasek,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Even with a good arsenal, Horton experienced some regression in his velocity and effectiveness following his Tommy John surgery.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Having finished 10th last season, a regression looks likely, though relegation — as predicted by a fair few of our staff — may be a step too far in a negative direction.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Texas Democrats return home Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives returned to Austin on Monday after leaving the state two weeks ago in protest of a Republican plan to redraw congressional maps to help the party gain seats in 2026.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
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Devour Indy Summerfest 2025: Devour Indy returns with more than 150 restaurants.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The hurricane's outer bands are expected to bring worsening weather conditions to North Carolina's coast by the evening of Aug. 20, the hurricane center said.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
21 Aug. 2025
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García Mercado is just one of so many Puerto Ricans who've felt forced to leave their island because of a lack of economic opportunity amid its decades-long debt crisis, worsening infrastructure, rising prices amid a wave of gentrification, and deteriorating services.—
Adrian Florido,
NPR,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Attorney General’s Office declined to comment on the complaint, which was filed in March 2025.—
Mary Jo Pitzl,
AZCentral.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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The Current declined to comment and referred all requests to the NWSL.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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First responders descended on the scene as a plume of smoke shrouded the five-story furnace building on Bells Lane.—
Ruby Grisin,
The Courier-Journal,
19 Aug. 2025
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On a sunny day last February, Mesfin and a team of photographers and surfers of color descended on Huntington Pier in Southern California.—
Kade Krichko,
Outside,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Ignoring that second part, Irakli contacts Lisa’s editor and discovers that her as-yet-unfinished assignment is a photo essay on the crumbling football pitches of rural Georgia.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
17 Aug. 2025
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Also getting a major glow-up in the remaining four episodes is a large, crumbling Victorian in the northern part of Detroit's Corktown neighborhood.—
Julie Hinds,
Freep.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Regress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regress. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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