1
as in reverting
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorating
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 regressing
Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Rafa Leao and Christian Pulisic were unsustainably clinical in the first half of the season, before regressing to the mean in a side bereft of chance creation in the second half of the campaign.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026
And when Varley returns to Portia after a stint with the manipulative and tempestuous Lady Penwood (Katie Leung), that’s not Bridgerton simply regressing to a status quo.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
Spoelstra’s latest challenge to Ware came in mid-January, calling him out for regressing after his strong November stretch.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Teachers at Sophia’s school told her parents that her reading skills were regressing, prompting them to order her glasses and schedule what seemed like routine tests.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
In the face of that reality—the death, functionally, of the American dream—millennials, Gen Zers and Gen Alphaers have started fantasizing about the abolition of money, of technology, of progress entirely, to the point of dreaming about regressing away from humanity itself.
—Hazlitt, 3 Dec. 2025
Even before the Spurs became the fifth Denver opponent to make more than 15 threes this season, Adelman was already alert to the fact that his team’s defense was regressing.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
With this loss, Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes dropped to 3-9 on the season — significantly regressing compared to last year's 9-4 finish.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Verb
This shifts hair follicles from regressing into active growth.
—Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Rafa Leao and Christian Pulisic were unsustainably clinical in the first half of the season, before regressing to the mean in a side bereft of chance creation in the second half of the campaign.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026
And when Varley returns to Portia after a stint with the manipulative and tempestuous Lady Penwood (Katie Leung), that’s not Bridgerton simply regressing to a status quo.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
Spoelstra’s latest challenge to Ware came in mid-January, calling him out for regressing after his strong November stretch.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Teachers at Sophia’s school told her parents that her reading skills were regressing, prompting them to order her glasses and schedule what seemed like routine tests.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
In the face of that reality—the death, functionally, of the American dream—millennials, Gen Zers and Gen Alphaers have started fantasizing about the abolition of money, of technology, of progress entirely, to the point of dreaming about regressing away from humanity itself.
—Hazlitt, 3 Dec. 2025
Even before the Spurs became the fifth Denver opponent to make more than 15 threes this season, Adelman was already alert to the fact that his team’s defense was regressing.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
With this loss, Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes dropped to 3-9 on the season — significantly regressing compared to last year's 9-4 finish.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regressing
Verb
-
The state is reverting some districts to older lines that are more favorable to Republicans.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
20 May 2026
-
The ruling effectively overturned the city’s ordinance, reverting the election to November 2025.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Verb
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But higher oil prices — particularly if the conflict in the Middle East escalates — or a deteriorating labor market could make the consumer slowdown sharper than currently anticipated.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
-
Raman, who endorsed Bass’ reelection bid only to launch a surprise campaign to unseat her, said the incumbent lacked urgency on an array of issues, including production of new apartments, fixing deteriorating streets and sidewalks, and halting the exodus of entertainment industry jobs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Picard and millions of other returning veterans were keen to put the war behind them.—
Kevin Maurer,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
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Hosted by returning IndieWire favorite Dewayne Perkins on June 4 in Los Angeles, the TV edition of our biannual awards ceremony honored some of the most innovative creators and performers working on series today.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
The attack in al-Murrah, near contested Barah, underscores RSF’s tightening hold over resource-rich Darfur and Kordofan and the worsening humanitarian crisis engulfing civilians.—
Fatma Khaled,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
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New pipelines and fossil fuel plants generate millions of dollars for fossil fuel companies and utilities, while locking young people into decades more of pollution and worsening climate change.—
Sydney Collins,
Hartford Courant,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Three other vehicles with human drivers then appeared to illegally pass the stopped bus.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
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The truck crossed into the eastbound lane and crashed into the stopped Kia, striking the three pedestrians, CHP said.—
Aidin Vaziri,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The fireball expands out and covers the entire launch pad as the fuselage of the rocket can be seen crumbling into the flames.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2026
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Our work behind the scenes keeps the whole edifice from crumbling—at least for now.—
Pablo Strauss,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Writers and reporters at the conference are learning how to improve their coverage of topics, including changes to education at the federal and state levels, the use of artificial intelligence in schools, and declining enrollment.—
Kellye Lynn,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
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As Hartford education officials work to mitigate a large budget deficit, a report from an outside firm The Connecticut State Department of Education hired to review Hartford Public Schools’ financials found that declining enrollment and decisions regarding salaries and hiring are to blame.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Helicopters and troops descending upon the Puente Hills Mall rattled Palacios and her daughter, who live a block away from the shopping center.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
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The dashcam video shows the interior of the cab in the moments before and after the collision, as the driver appears to notice the rapidly descending plane just before impact.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Regressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regressing. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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