Definition of retrogressnext
as in to revert
to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level the quality of research at the university lab has begun to retrogress since the massive budget cuts went into effect

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retrogress This annual limit, and the intense global demand has created significant back logs, particularly for applicants from India and China, whose EB-2 priority dates have continually retrogressed. — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 3 Jan. 2026 After the 1960s, after the switch in—the shift in the strategy to gaining political clout, a lot of those trends stalled, slowed, even retrogressed. — WSJ, 3 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrogress
Verb
  • Airlines can revert some Maxes to the older software version.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Just after Sky announced its greenlight earlier this year, Banijay and Sony entered a rights dispute revolving around Banijay believing the TV and film rights had reverted back to them since The Girl in the Spider’s Web movie aired.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Reps for Bryan and Gillette stadium did not immediately return a request for comment.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • After agents left and returned, Cole agreed to continue speaking and provided more details.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Retrogress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrogress. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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