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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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
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
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The testing also showed that after a time, the chromium reverted back to nontoxic form.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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How registration rates work The cut will temporarily revert tab fees to pre-2024 levels, though individual savings will depend on a vehicle’s value and age.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
Verb
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The rulings do not clear the former paramedics of wrongdoing but return the cases to the lower court for a possible retrial.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
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That includes several breakout freshman series that will return for second seasons, Apple TV’s Emmy-winning The Studio, Netflix’s The Hunting Wives, USA Network’s The Rainmaker and MGM+’s Robin Hood.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrogress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrogress. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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