1
as in reverts
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 deteriorates
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of regresses
David Wilson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
There’s no true aspect of his game that stands out, and without a true calling card that could come back to haunt him if his shooting regresses.
—Tom Rende, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
So perhaps the off-ramp is some disaster that regresses on social, technological, or political progress, knocking backward humanity’s millennia-long history of struggle and growth.
—Literary Hub, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
Whether the Commanders can catch the Eagles already likely depends on whether Daniels builds on his rookie season or hits a sophomore slump and regresses after Washington was the best fourth-down team in history last season.
—David Wilson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
There’s no true aspect of his game that stands out, and without a true calling card that could come back to haunt him if his shooting regresses.
—Tom Rende, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
So perhaps the off-ramp is some disaster that regresses on social, technological, or political progress, knocking backward humanity’s millennia-long history of struggle and growth.
—Literary Hub, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regresses
Verb
-
There are still times Stokes reverts back to his worst tendencies on the basketball court.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Democrats currently hold a 6-5 edge, and the new map will hold until the process reverts back to a bipartisan redistricting commission after the 2030 Census.—
Julia Mueller,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Meetings grow tense, and communication deteriorates.—
Niurys Robaina,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
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There’s less maintenance and less investment in them, so the individual property deteriorates.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The engineering team that was building new features is now fighting regressions.—
Alberto Gimeno,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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The new drug will not reverse regressions that have already occurred.—
Elizabeth Chuck,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bounding out of the room, Shaboozey returns clutching his Grammy trophy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2026
-
Producer Laurence Mark returns for the sequel, as does executive producer Barry Kemp.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The psychological horror film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor is about a furniture store owner who descends into his own heart of darkness in his shop.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
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But their friendship comes to a sudden end in episode 5 when law enforcement descends on the farm.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Noun
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The multifaceted stories the surveys tell will mark some of the US’s advances over 50 years, but also its retreats.—
Greg Allen,
ARTnews.com,
7 June 2026
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Stevie retreats into the endcap of the aisle, to hide behind chips the size of feed bags, and this is how Stevie is sick in the head.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Verb
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As the economic and social situation worsens, Cubans have organized daily protests in various parts of the island.—
Sarah Moreno
June 5,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2026
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Castro rises to power after brother’s health worsens In 2006, Fidel Castro’s health began to decline, and Raúl Castro was temporarily handed power in late July of that year until Cuba’s National Assembly elected him as president in February 2008.—
Dánica Coto,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Construction ebbs and flows with cyclical interest rates.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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Throughout its history the company has gone through the ebbs and flows of the jewelry sector, impacted to various extents by wars, macroeconomic volatility and geopolitical disruption.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Regresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regresses. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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