regressive

[ ri-gres-iv ]

adjective

1. regressing or tending to regress; retrogressive.
2. Biology. of, relating to, or effecting regression.
3. (of tax) decreasing proportionately with an increase in the tax base ( def ).
4. Logic. obtained from or characterized by backward reasoning.

Other Words From

• re·gres·sive·ly adverb
• re·gres·sive·ness re·gres·siv·i·ty [ree-gre-, siv, -i-tee], noun
• non·re·gres·sive adjective
• non·re·gres·sive·ly adverb
• un·re·gres·sive adjective
• un·re·gres·sive·ly adverb
• un·re·gres·sive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of regressive¹

First recorded in 1625–35; regress + -ive

Example Sentences

Krishnan says the “regressive opposition” to his work “only strengthens my resolve.”

From Ozy

Other concerns center on fuel taxes being regressive – having higher impacts on low-income communities.

From Voice of San Diego

This crisis is particularly regressive—it’s regressive within countries, with the poorest segments of the population being hit.

From Fortune

Many who remained felt that Lighthizer represented an old guard, with regressive views of how the economy should work.

From ProPublica

We certainly know that gambling on, for example, lottery tickets — highly regressive, especially scratch-off tickets.

From Freakonomics

A wave of critics, though, has been denouncing it as anti-democratic and regressive.

From The Daily Beast

Nipple also posted the rather regressive question “Did gender equality go to far?”

From The Daily Beast

The media, much of it in the hands of regressive establishment figures, eagerly cheered them on.

From The Daily Beast

Finally, while sales taxes are regressive, you can make a pretty good case that taxes on e-commerce are progressive.

From The Daily Beast

But he has quietly gone from being an outlier to being only one of five consistently regressive votes.

From The Daily Beast

To advocate a moral standard higher for women than for men is regarded now as reactionary and regressive.

From Project Gutenberg

Formal decay begins when a language becomes historical, and it often gives rise to remarkable cases of regressive metamorphosis.

From Project Gutenberg

The two limits are then called the “progressive” and “regressive” differential coefficients.

From Project Gutenberg

This influence, a form of regressive assimilation, is known as i-umlaut (pronounced om-lowt).

From Project Gutenberg

Dream symbols are the most easily demonstrable, and after them, certain peculiarities of regressive dream representations.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• archconservative
• counterrevolutionary
• rightist
• ultraconservative