Synonyms of progressive

progressive 1 of 2

adjective

prə-ˈgre-siv 

1

as in advanced

being far along in development

progressive forms of animal life

Synonyms & Similar Words

• advanced
• higher
• evolved
• improved
• high
• developed
• modern
• late
• educated
• enhanced
• forward
• refined
• new
• contemporary
• newest
• enlightened
• precocious
• civilized
• latest
• current
• recent
• full-scale
• ripe
• grown
• mature
• matured
• full-blown
• full-fledged
• aged
• novel
• ultramodern
• perfected
• present-day
• newfangled
• ripened
• up-to-date
• cutting-edge
• leading-edge
• now
• new-fashioned
• supermodern
• mod
• space-age

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lower
• primitive
• backward
• nonprogressive
• low
• rudimentary
• undeveloped
• green
• rude
• immature
• underdeveloped
• savage
• undersized
• early
• uneducated
• underweight
• unripe
• uncivilized
• embryonic
• old
• unripened
• primordial
• primeval
• past
• germinal
• obsolete
• antiquated
• old-fashioned
• old-time
• antique
• antediluvian
• hoary
• out-of-date
• Neanderthal
• outworn
• musty
• fusty
• dated
• passé
• oldfangled

2

as in liberal

not bound by traditional ways or beliefs

a socially progressive community, it was the first to provide for the public education of girls

Synonyms & Similar Words

• liberal
• modern
• unconventional
• radical
• contemporary
• nontraditional
• nonconventional
• advanced
• unorthodox
• broad-minded
• open-minded
• nonorthodox
• extreme
• permissive
• tolerant
• lenient
• impartial
• large-minded
• unbiased
• forbearing
• indulgent
• objective

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conservative
• traditional
• conventional
• orthodox
• rigid
• old-fashioned
• strict
• hard
• nonprogressive
• dogmatic
• stodgy
• doctrinal
• hidebound
• reactionary
• intolerant
• bigoted
• blinkered
• narrow-minded
• unreconstructed

3

as in pioneering

being or employing the latest concepts, styles, or techniques

one of the founders of progressive dance, Isadora Duncan became an inspiration to an array of free-spirited artists

Synonyms & Similar Words

• advanced
• pioneering
• unconventional
• modern
• contemporary
• revolutionary
• new
• avant
• original
• underground
• cutting-edge
• avant-garde
• state-of-the-art
• current
• alternative
• strange
• bizarre
• modernistic
• nontraditional
• antiestablishment
• novel
• trailblazing
• unprecedented
• unfamiliar
• fresh
• outré
• unknown
• unheard-of
• way-out
• hot
• ultramodern
• present-day
• newfangled
• up-to-date
• unaccustomed
• far-out
• new-fashioned
• mod
• red-hot
• space-age

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• traditional
• conventional
• customary
• established
• orthodox

progressive

2 of 2

noun

as in moderate

Related Words

• moderate
• reformer
• centrist
• middle-of-the-roader
• compromiser
• accommodationist

Dissimilar Words

• revolutionary
• extremist
• conservative
• revolutionist
• liberal
• reactionary
• radical
• rightist
• leftist
• ultraist
• right-winger
• left-winger

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of progressive

Adjective

In 2022, Dion was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare, debilitating progressive neurological disorder that causes muscle rigidity and spasms so violent Dion broke ribs. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026

Rob Reiner spoke out against the death penalty in the years before his death and supported other progressive causes. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Noun

Tuesday’s elections for the Florida Legislature saw a progressive from Kissimmee win a seat in the state House while incumbents romped in party primaries across Central Florida. — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026

Outside groups spent more than $63 million supporting Haley Stevens, a candidate backed by the establishment, dwarfing the amount spent on her opponent, a brash progressive named Abdul El-Sayed with a war chest some nine times smaller. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 5 Aug. 2026